Category: daily meditations

SCRIPTURE: Daniel 5:1-16 OBSERVATION: This banquet was probably an orgiastic affair. Belshazzar attempts to mock the God of Israel by using the temple goblets. God uses this occasion to bring glory to Himself, to humble the king and to use his servant Daniel. The bodyless hand must have been frightening! Though they do not understand Daniel…

SCRIPTURE: 3 John 1:1-14 OBSERVATION: A personal letter because the church leader (Diotrephes) wouldn’t allow the letter to get to the members (v.9). Walking in the truth (not just believing it) equals demonstrating love (doing good, showing hospitality, offering help). By doing this we work together for the truth (ie Jesus). John speaks quite boldly when he…

SCRIPTURE: 2 John 1:1-13 OBSERVATION: John is writing to a specific church (symbolically the “chosen lady and her children”), and gives greetings from a sister church (v.13). He summarizes the message as believing in Jesus as God’s Son in the flesh, and obeying the love of Jesus by loving and serving others. He warns against those who…

SCRIPTURE: Psalm 10:1-18 OBSERVATION: David faces head on the troubling question as to why God seems distant, silent, while the wicked seem to prosper and succeed. His faith is being tested through fire, but he affirms God’s goodness despite what He sees. He declares his confidence in God, then appeals to Him for action. This is…

SCRIPTURE: Psalm 9:1-20 OBSERVATION: In the context of volatile political and personal crises, David affirms that the Lord is God (in control, sovereign) and is good (just, helps the oppressed). Can we even understand the world in which David lived, more like the instability of the Sudan, eastern Europe in the 90s, Afganistan, Palestine, Iraq, most of…

SCRIPTURE: Psalm 8:1-9 OBSERVATION: David is overwhelmed by the greatness of God, the smallness of humanity, and the wonder that God has chosen us to rule this world for Him. David marvels that God uses the meek (children and infants) to humble the proud and mighty (foe and avenger, v.2). God is greater than everything in…

SCRIPTURE: Psalm 7:1-17 OBSERVATION: David has been cruelly treated by Cush, a Benjamite, perhaps a supporter of the previous king Saul (also a Benjamite). Maybe at the same time as previous Psalm when David was fleeing Absalom’s coup, and he was cursed by Shimei, also a Benjamite (2 Samuel 16:5-12). Here David claims innocence, and we know that…

SCRIPTURE: Psalm 6:1-10 OBSERVATION: David is in physical and emotional/spiritual crisis, possible nearing death. His enemies are attacking him, perhaps like Job’s friends, blaming him for his own suffering. David is in agony, and pleads for mercy. He concludes his prayer with an expression of confidence, “the Lord has heard”. APPLICATION: This is a very graphic…

SCRIPTURE: Psalm 5:1-12 OBSERVATION: David is going through a tough time. He is pleading for the Lord to help him. In this time of waiting, he reminds himself Who the Lord is, what He is like, and that He can be trusted. The Lord will not tolerate wickedness forever, and those who cling to Him and…

SCRIPTURE: Psalm 4:1-8 OBSERVATION: David seems to be in the midst of a crisis, and the people who are troubling him are also mocking him, “turning his glory into shame”. Those with David are despairing, “who can show us any good?” David refuses to give up. He appeals to God for help (mercy) and declares his…