Digging in Deeper: Psalms 122:6-9

“Pray for the well-being of Jerusalem: ‘May those who love you be secure; may there be peace within your walls, security within your fortresses.’ Because of my brothers and friends, I will say, ‘May peace be in you.’ Because of the house of the Lord our God, I will pursue your prosperity.” (CSB – Read the chapter)

This past Saturday a new horror was unleashed upon the world. Well, it wasn’t actually a new horror at all. It was an old horror that has been played on repeat for a very long time. But this particular manifestation of it was new. It was started afresh perhaps. Islamic terrorists from the religio-political entity known as Hamas executed a long-planned and vicious attack on a mostly unsuspecting Israel. Reactions around the world to this atrocity have been disgustingly mixed. Additionally, like so many violent confrontations involving Israel, this one has prompted believers to wonder if this is a sign of the approaching end of the world. A Babylon Bee headline satirically noted that the 700 Club’s Rapture Clock was set two minutes closer to the start of the Tribulation. What should we make of this latest attack on Israel by its enemies, and does it actually say anything about the timing of Christ’s return? Let’s spend a few minutes this morning thinking about that.

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Morning Musing: Micah 4:3

“He will settle disputes among many peoples and provide arbitration for strong nations that are far away. They will beat their swords into plows and their spears into pruning knives. Nation will not take up the sword against nation, and they will never again train for war.”‬‬ (CSB – Read the chapter)

We live in a day when chaos seems to reign more and more. We may be 80 years from the last armed conflict that could truly be described as a world war, but the world seems to be at war everywhere we look. For those who live in areas where this conflict is part of the rhythm of daily life it is exhausting. When will it end? We don’t know that, but we do know beyond a shadow of doubt that it will.

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Digging in Deeper: Joshua 10:40

“So Joshua struck the whole land, the hill country and the Negeb and the lowland and the slopes, and all their kings.  He left none remaining, but devoted to destruction all that breathed, just as the Lord God of Israel commanded.”  (ESV – Read the chapter)

I’ve said it before and let me say it again here: If we don’t get the character of God right, we won’t be able to make sense out of the Scriptures.  This is important all the time, but it is especially important in the narrative of Joshua where we find this verse, which, along with the other verses similar to it in this chapter and the next, gives people more trouble than just about any other portion of the Old Testament. Read the rest…