Job 7:17, “What is man, that you make so much of him, and that you set your heart on him, visit him every morning and test him every moment?” (c.f. Psalm 8:4) Job here associates his suffering—and, indeed, the sufferings of humanity—with the attention of the Lord. If mankind were not under the scrutiny […]
Psalm 124:7, “We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken and we have escaped.” This was one of the Psalms that was sung during my time at the abbey of Gethsemani last week. As soon as I heard it, the attached image sprang to my mind. I’d
Acts 20:35, “[the Lord Jesus himself] said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” It is happier, it is sweeter, it is more soul-healthy, it is more pleasurable to give than to receive. Pouring out is better than taking in, giving up is better than claiming for one’s own, releasing is better than
Revelation 17:24, “They will are war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is the Lord of lords an King of kings…” The understated simplicity of this verse is beautiful to consider. John is writing about nothing less than the culminating manifestation of worldly opposition to God, embodied in the
Isaiah 49:10, “…they shall not hunger or thirst, neither scorching wind nor sun shall strike them, for he who has pity on them will lead them, and by springs of water will guide them.” And the one who leads us has pity on us because He is one of us (Revelation 7:17, the Lamb is
Ecclesiastes 3:11, “He has made everything beautiful in its time.” This is a sweeping and implication-laden statement. God has made everything beautiful in its time. Is that true? Is it true that God has so designed reality that everything in existence—everything that exists; everything that has happened, is happening, will happen; every pain and torment
Isaiah 26:19, “You who dwell in the dust, awake and sing for joy! For your dew is a dew of light, and the earth will give birth to the dead.” Isaiah 26:18-19, “…we were pregnant, we writhed, but we have given birth to wind. We have accomplished no deliverance in the earth…Your dead shall
2 Chronicles 20:12, “…we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” I read this passage in 2 Chronicles a few days ago during my morning reading. It’s such a beautiful and invincible response to suffering…..To be able
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John 10:27, “My sheep hear my voice…” If we’ve heard the voice of our Shepherd calling our name in the love of Calvary, we are His sheep.
Joel 2:32, “…everyone who calls on the name of YHWH shall be saved.” Luke 23:42, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom…” Paradise opened to the thief when he called on the name of YHWH incarnate, Jesus Christ (whose name means “YHWH Saves”).
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Isaiah 5:25,”…His anger has not turned away…” Isaiah 9:12, “…His anger has not turned away…” Isaiah 9:17, “…His anger has not turned away…” Isaiah 9:21, “…His anger has not turned away…” Isaiah 10:4, “…His anger has not turned away…” Isaiah 12:1, “…your anger turned away, that you might comfort me.” Hallowed be His Name.
Hebrews 2:10, “…it was fitting that He, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering.” The God-Man becomes Humanity’s perfect savior by sharing in and overcoming the fullness of humanity’s suffering–climactically so in His death on the cross.
Psalm 143:6, “I stretch out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land…” As water is to soil, so the living God is to the human soul. And we receive the water of His presence only by His Spirit and only in the person of the crucified and risen
Jonah 1:15, “So they picked up Jonah and hurled him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging.” Christ is the True Jonah. He was thrown into the sea of God’s wrath on the cross, and with His dying breath, “the sea ceased from its raging” for all those who love and
Malachi 4:2, “…the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings.” Luke 1:78-79, “…the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet in the way of peace.”
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Psalm 19, The word of Creation and the word of Scripture point to, are illuminated by, and are summed up in the Word Incarnate.
Isaiah 25:8, “He will swallow up death forever, and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces.”
Luke 12:32,”Fear not little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”
Psalm 30:5,”Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.” Always and only true for the Christian…
