Episodes

Thursday Feb 06, 2020
Bible Study from February 3, 2020 - Psalm 77
Thursday Feb 06, 2020
Thursday Feb 06, 2020
Note: This podcast is abbreviated, as the recorder was not turned on when the study began, but only partway through the study. Look at the summary below for more of what was discussed.
In this study, we looked at some Scriptures related to Psalm 77. We looked at a few Scriptures from Habakkuk, an Old Testament prophet who lived and wrote at about the time of the fall of the Southern Kingdom of Judah to Babylonian invaders, around 605-597 BC. Habakkuk had questions for God, about what God was doing and allowing, and needed encouragement for his faith, just as Asaph did in Psalm 77. There was trouble within Judah and violence from invasions from the outside. Habakkuk cries out, “O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and You will not hear? Or cry to You, 'Violence!' and you will not save” (Habakkuk 1:2).
The Lord has a surprising answer - that He is raising up the Chaldeans, the Babylonians, for the purpose of bringing judgment upon His own sinful, rebellious people, after many, many calls for repentance. (1:5-6) Habakkuk does not understand this, for, he says that the Babylonians are unbelievers, worshipping false gods, and are more wicked than the people of Judah (1:11). How could God use such evil people? Habakkuk waits for an answer from God (2:1).
God tells Habakkuk that judgment will eventually come to the Babylonians, also, and that God’s people must trust God and wait for His plans to work. God then speaks the famous words, “The righteous shall live by his faith” (2:2-4).
Even in the Old Testament, people are counted as righteous before God by simply believing the Lord and His promises (Genesis 15:5-6). See, for example, what the New Testament says about Abraham, based on the Genesis passage, in Romans 4:1-8. Habakkuk 2:4 is quoted in Romans 1:16-17 and Galatians 3:11 and Hebrews 10:38, all in the context of salvation by grace through faith, as a gift of God.
Habakkuk finally realizes that he himself has been “puffed up” and “not upright” before God, and is humbled and silenced before God (2:20). He prays a prayer to the Lord, speaking of the greatness and power of God in the past and using poetic picture images, as Asaph does in Psalm 77 (Habakkuk 3:8-15). He prays that even as wrath falls upon God’s people, God would “remember mercy” (3:2).
Habakkuk ends his prophecy with a great poetic statement of faith, that no matter what difficult things happen in the future, he will seek to live by faith in God’s coming strength and salvation, (Habakkuk 3:17-19), just as Asaph in Psalm 77, trusts that God will continue to lead His people like a flock, as their Redeemer (Psalm 77:15,20).
We then looked at some Scriptures which talk about walking in the “footsteps" of the Lord, as Psalm 77:19 and Psalm 50:23 encourage.
See, for example, 1 Peter 2:21-25, where we seek to follow in the steps of Jesus and His example, while gratefully knowing that Jesus has already lived perfectly for us and forgiven our sins. Job 34:21 and Proverbs 14:15 call us to be careful about our steps, as the Lord knows our ways. At the same time, the Lord is somehow working for good and directing our steps. We are not alone, as Proverbs 16:9, 20:24, 37:23, and Jeremiah 10:23-24 tell us. As the Holy Spirit has brought us to faith, we pray that we may walk in His way, by His power, in Galatians 5:16,25. Note the contrast between sinful desires and the fruit of the Spirit, in Gal. 5:17-24. We pray that the Lord will forgive our sins and lead us in the better way that we should go.

Sunday Feb 02, 2020
Sermon for the Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany February 2, 2020
Sunday Feb 02, 2020
Sunday Feb 02, 2020
Sermon for the Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany February 2, 2020, based on:
Sermon originally delivered January 30, 2011

Sunday Feb 02, 2020
Sermon for the Transfiguration of Our Lord February 2, 2020
Sunday Feb 02, 2020
Sunday Feb 02, 2020
Sermon for the Transfiguration of our Lord, based on:
Sermon originally delivered February 2, 2020

Thursday Jan 30, 2020
Bible Study from January 27, 2020 - Psalm 77
Thursday Jan 30, 2020
Thursday Jan 30, 2020
In this study, we looked at Psalm 77, a psalm of Asaph, a leader of worship and music for King David, at the Tabernacle in Jerusalem. (See 1 Chronicles 16:37,41,42, for example.) Though Asaph was a worship leader for God’s people, he still had trouble and difficult times, as we all do. We do not know just what his trouble (v.2) was, as he writes this psalm, but it is bothering him very much (v.1-4). He cannot sleep, and he cries out to God, but he does not seem to get help or comfort. His spirit is discouraged and he moans and he can hardly speak to God.
He wishes he could remember songs and psalms he has used in the past (v.5-6), but his mind keeps going to questions about whether God has forgotten him and does not love him anymore (v.7-9). Asaph is describing real struggles that all of us go through, when times are very difficult, and our prayers don’t seem to be answered, at least as we wish and think is right. Where is God and His love?
Asaph has not lost his faith, but he is very troubled. Finally, with the Lord’s help, he knows what he needs to do (v.10-15). He needs to turn to God’s Word and be reminded that God has been faithful in the past, with His great deeds and wonders, and He will surely help us again, even if we have to wait and wait upon Him.
Asaph remembers especially God’s great rescue of His people from slavery in Egypt and at the Red Sea and in the wilderness, as they traveled to the promised land. He seems to quote, in verse 13, from Exodus 15:13, when Moses and the people sang their own song of praise to God, when all seemed to be lost, and God opened up the Red Sea for them and rescued them, at last. Moses sang, “Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like You, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?” (Remember, by the way, that Scripture interprets Scripture for us. Moses did not mean that other gods are real. People sadly sometimes believe in many gods and goddesses, but they are not real. There is only one real and true God. See Psalm 96:4-5 and Deuteronomy 4:35 and 5:& and 6:4 and so many other Scriptures.) Moses, inspired by God, had told the people, in their time of great danger, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will work for you.” (Exodus 14:13)
Asaph remembers the Scriptures and describes in a very poetic way, God’s mighty work at the Red Sea, when the waters fled away and the people walked on dry land, and when God appeared to them at Mt. Sinai in power and majesty, with thunder and lightning, and continued to lead His flock, His people (Psalm 77:16-20). Asaph describes this as God’s “redeeming“ His people (v.16) - and giving them hope and new life, just when they needed help. Surely God will help him, too, Asaph is concluding, as he meditates on God’s Word about the past.
That is God’s promise for us, too, as we meditate on His Word, still today. All that Asaph describes is pointing forward to the great redemption by Jesus, as He rescued us from our sins and earned for us the gift of eternal life, as described in the New Testament (1 Peter 1:18-21 and Galatians 3:10-14, especially v.13, and many other Scriptures). Jesus showed that He was God, able to do this, also by being able to control the wind and waves of the sea and even walking on water. (See Psalm 77:16,19 and Matthew 14:22-33 and Mark 4:35-41, etc.) The New Testament too, promises comfort and strength for us, also, when we try not to focus on ourselves and our troubles, but cast our cares upon the Lord and trust Him to help us in His own good time (1 Peter 5:6-11), even though Satan tempts us to give up on God. Thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory (1 Corinthians 15:57-58)!

Monday Jan 27, 2020
Sermon for the Third Sunday after the Epiphany January 26, 2020
Monday Jan 27, 2020
Monday Jan 27, 2020
Sermon for the Third Sunday after the Epiphany, based on:
Sermon originally delivered January 23, 2011

Wednesday Jan 22, 2020
Bible Study from January 20, 2020 - Psalm 85
Wednesday Jan 22, 2020
Wednesday Jan 22, 2020
In our study, we finished looking at Psalm 85, where the psalmist speaks of the mercy of God in forgiving the sins of His people and restoring their fortunes, (most likely referring to their return to their land, after the Babylonian captivity, v.1-3). Unfortunately, things did not go well for them, because of opposition from others and their own sinfulness and refusal to listen to their Lord. The psalmist must pray again that God would restore and revive His people and show them His steadfast love and saving mercy (v.4-7).
The psalmist is confident, though, that the Lord will speak peace to His people, to His saints (those who continue to turn to their Lord in repentance and trust in His mercy, by faith, and don’t keep turning away from Him) (v.8). The gifts that people really need are the gifts given by Him alone, the good gifts that bless the people and help them in their land (v.12). (See also James 1:17-18 and the reminder and promises there. By His own will, God even brings us forth to the new and eternal life we all need.)
These gifts of God: steadfast love (mercy), faithfulness (being true and trustworthy), righteousness, and peace, are then personified by the psalmist, as if they are living beings, meeting and kissing one another and coming to us from outside of us, from the Lord (v. 10-11). Righteousness is even pictured as being with God and going before Him and providing a way for us, as we go in and with His footsteps (v.13). This is all the Lord’s doing, providing good things for us.
This psalm then predicts the future. The gifts are literally personified for us in the coming of God’s only Son, Jesus, Who lived out all of these gifts perfectly and provided them for us, by His grace. See John 1:14-17, where God the Son, the Word, became flesh, a real human being, bringing to us grace (undeserved love and favor from God) and truth (faithfulness). Jesus fulfilled all righteousness for us, in our place. (See Matthew 3:15 and ! Corinthians 1:28-31 and 2 Corinthians 5:21 and Romans 3:21-28 and 8:1-4 and Hebrews 2:14-18 and 4:14-16 and on and on, in the New Testament.) The New Testament also encourages to stay in the footsteps and the way of Jesus our Savior, even as the psalmist says (Psalm 85:13). See 1 Peter 2:21,24. Standing in the footsteps of the living Lord Jesus, we are always on firm ground! (See 1 Peter 5:12.)

Sunday Jan 19, 2020
Sermon for the Second Sunday after the Epiphany January 19, 2020
Sunday Jan 19, 2020
Sunday Jan 19, 2020
Sermon for the Second Sunday after the Epiphany, based on:
Sermon originally delivered January 16, 2011

Tuesday Jan 14, 2020
Bible Study from January 13, 2020 - Psalm 85
Tuesday Jan 14, 2020
Tuesday Jan 14, 2020
In our study, we began looking at Psalm 85. The authors, sons of Korah, remember how God had been merciful and forgiving to His people, descendants of Jacob, the people of Israel (v.1-3). Many commentators think they are speaking of how God had forgiven and allowed the Israelites to return to their homeland, after their years of captivity in Babylon. Prophets like Jeremiah had warned the people of God’s wrath coming, because of their many sins and rebellion against Him and His will. Then the time of judgement came and the Babylonians conquered the Southern Kingdom and killed many and carried many others away to Babylon. (See Jeremiah 30:15, for example, and the “lamentation and bitter weeping” of that period,(Jeremiah 31:15) as had happened before with Rachel (Genesis 35:16-20) and would happen again with the slaughter of the children in Bethlehem, after Jesus was born (Matthew 2:13-18).
God had also promised though, through Jeremiah, that He would eventually bring some of His people back to the land of Israel, when they realized their sin and repented. (Hear God’s promises, through Jeremiah, in Jeremiah 31:17,20, when His people cry out, literally, “Turn me, and I shall be turned” (Jeremiah 31:18-19).
God even promises a new covenant (the New Testament) in which His own Son would come to be the Savior and forgive and forget their sin. (See Jeremiah 31:31-34 and explanation of that in Hebrews 8.)
God’s people return to their land, by God’s grace, but much does not go well. The people now living in Israel do not want these Israelites around, and the Israelites are not eager to do what God wants them to do. (Read Ezra 4:4, 24, and Nehemiah 1:3 and Haggai 1:4-10, for example) Once again, the Israelites need to call out, “Turn us again, O God of our salvation”, as we hear in Psalm 85:4-7.
Next week, we will continue with Psalm 85 and what it means for us today, and how we need to cry out, too, “Show us Your steadfast love, O Lord, and grant us Your salvation.” (Psalm 85:7) And God does provide His own Righteousness for us, in Christ!

Sunday Jan 12, 2020
Sermon for the Baptism of Our Lord January 12, 2020
Sunday Jan 12, 2020
Sunday Jan 12, 2020
Sermon for The Baptism of Our Lord, based on:
Sermon originally delivered January 9, 2011

Friday Jan 10, 2020
Bible Study from January 6, 2020 - Psalm 72
Friday Jan 10, 2020
Friday Jan 10, 2020
Bible Study from January 6, 2020, looking at Psalm 72
In this study, we looked at Psalm 72, one of the psalms that can be used for Epiphany. The title (superscription), “of Solomon," could mean that the psalm was written about or for him, or even that he was the author, for his coronation and work as King of Israel. It is a prayer for the Lord’s blessing and guidance for the king, but also goes beyond any earthly king to refer to and prophecy about our Lord Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of lords, to come from the line of King David.
Verses 1 and 2 ask God to give the king justice and righteousness, so that he would govern rightly and be fair to all, including the poor and the needy. (See also verses 4 and 12-13.) There is also prayer that there would be peace and prosperity in the land. (See verses 3, 6-7, and 13.) Prayers are encouraged to be offered continually for the king, as well, and future kings, that they may fear the Lord (verse 5).
Some of the references to kings and lands and gold and wisdom refer to blessed times under Solomon and the many people who respected him and gave him gifts and honor. (See verses 9-10 and 15, and 1 Kings 3-10 and the story of the Queen of Sheba coming with gold to Solomon, for example.)
However, much of the Psalm goes beyond what Solomon or any earthly king could accomplish. It point forward to Jesus and His everlasting kingdom, as He did His saving work for us and now reigns in the hearts of believers and takes us to eternal life in heaven, one day. Notice the references to blessings for all nations and throughout all generations and to the ends of the earth and peace that lasts till the moon is no more and a Name that endures forever. (See verses 5, 7, 8, 11, and 15.)
Only Jesus could be the Redeemer of people’s lives and bless people as Jesus did. Clearly this is the work and plan of the Lord God Who sent His Son, for this very purpose. (See verses 13 and 18-19.). Remember how Jesus as a baby received gifts of gold, too, from wise men from other nations, led by the star (Matthew 2:1-12 and Isaiah 60:1-6) and how many prophecies and New Testament passages point directly to Jesus. (See Zechariah 9:9-10 and v. 8 in this psalm and Matthew 21:1-11. See 2 Samuel 7:16 and Luke 1:30-33. See Jesus' own words, in Luke 11:21 (Someone greater than Solomon) and 17:20 and so many other places. See also Ephesians 1:18-23 and Philippians 2:5-11. Jesus alone is King of kings and Lord of lords (Revelation 19:11-19 and 7:9-17 and John 3:16), together with the Father and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:18-20).