Psalm 146
In children’s Sunday School in the 1960s I learned a little, catchy worship song I still remember. Perhaps you know it too. Praise Him, praise Him, all ye little children, God is love, God is love; Praise Him, praise Him, all ye little children, God is love, God is love. Verses two and three call […]
Psalm 145 – Part 2
From the beginning of our study of the Psalter to the end, we can’t miss the this wonderful book calls us to do. It’s one, little, monosyllabic word: praise. The first time it occurs is in Psalm 7 17 I will give thanks to the LORD according to His righteousness, and will sing praise to […]
Chalk Talk: State of the Church 2022
When I played football in High School my freshman year, we, as players, could always anticipate what would occur in the locker room during half-time. The coach typically rolled out a dusty, green chaulk board to the front of the room. We’d all take a knee, or find a bench, and with helmets in hand […]
Psalm 145 – Part 1
If you were writing a book for God, what would be the focus of your final chapter? For David, that answer came easy. He would, and did, focus on the many reasons a saint has for praising God. Psalms 145 is that last chapter of the book for the godly king, and rightfully did he […]
Psalm 144
Solomon, being a wise man to beat all wise men (1 Kings 4:29), surely studied the personal and political life of his father, King David. What did he see? He saw how God blessed his father in every facet of his life when he put God first, and he witnessed the removal of that blessing […]
Psalm 141
Talk about a saint who experienced his share of hostility. That was David. Even though God had dethroned the inept, egotistical, power-hungry Saul, and replaced him with the young, unproven, but humble shepherd from Bethlehem, Saul didn’t go quietly into the political night. No, he looked for every opportunity to either eliminate his political opposition, […]
Joy To The World
Isaac Watts, who was born on July 17, 1674, had several God-given gifts. He learned Latin at four, Greek at nine, French at ten, and Hebrew at thirteen. Can you say, wow?! In his lifetime he became not just an amazing student of the Bible, but a powerful preacher and teacher as well. As a […]
What Child Is This?
By the world’s standards, William Chatterton Dix was just an obscure nobody. He enjoyed reading and studying poets, classical literature, and writing his own poetry. Why did he get into poetry? He developed a love for it because his father loved it and encouraged his son to follow in his footsteps. His father went so […]
Come Thou Long Expected Jesus
In 2010 my Christmas series focused on the biblical theology behind some of the favorite Christmas carols. Digging into the meaning of the lyrics of these memorable musical numbers was so enlightening and challenging, I thought it wise to circle back this holy season and delve into additional pieces we hold dear. Not only will […]
Psalm 139
Writing to Christians experiencing the leading edge of Neronian persecution, Peter, who likened the city of Rome to the wicked city of Babylon (1 Pet. 5:13), reminded believers how a hostile culture naturally uses slander, ridicule, and discrimination against believers in order to silence. They, therefore, should not be shocked at their treatment for such […]
Psalm 137
From the founding of the kingdom in 1051 B.C. under the leadership of Saul, it took 465 years for Israel to go from a place of power and prominence to national oblivion. During these tumultuous, trying, and sometimes triumphant years, the Lord warned His people of impending doom through the courageous cries, teaching, and preaching […]
Psalm 136 – Part 2
I received an excited and emotional call from one of our former members on Wednesday. After years of struggling with their son’s special needs and brain issues which caused violent, unpredictable seizures, a recent brain scan came back all clear. God had done what doctors and medicines said couldn’t be done. The parents know it, […]