Encounter the Truth

There is no escaping it: we will all be disappointed at times by politicians, teachers, bosses, and community leaders—people who hold the responsibility of directing us and promoting our best interests, but who turn out to be unable to carry it through. This psalmist admonishes us not to put our trust in human leaders. And then he draws our hearts to put our hope in the right place—in the Lord him...

There is no escaping it: we will all be disappointed at times by politicians, teachers, bosses, and community leaders—people who hold the responsibility of directing us and promoting our best interests, but who turn out to be unable to carry it through. This psalmist admonishes us not to put our trust in human leaders. And then he draws our hearts to put our hope in the right place—in the Lord him...

The Psalms of ascents speak of the journey of the people of God as they go up to Jerusalem to enjoy the Lord’s presence in his temple. You and I are not on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, of course, but you and I today know what it is to be on a journey to the place of God’s presence—we know what it is to be pilgrims and travellers, longing for our final destination—weary from the journey, anxious to a...

The Psalms of ascents speak of the journey of the people of God as they go up to Jerusalem to enjoy the Lord’s presence in his temple. You and I are not on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, of course, but you and I today know what it is to be on a journey to the place of God’s presence—we know what it is to be pilgrims and travellers, longing for our final destination—weary from the journey, anxious to a...

In many ways, the prayer of Psalm 72 was fulfilled in the life of King Solomon. But like his father, David, Solomon did not live up to all the hopes invested in him. He was not the perfect king—he was not the ultimate hope of Israel. And because no Old Testament king ever fulfilled all the hopes and promises set out in God’s Word for that perfect king, the people of Israel continued to wait and lo...

In many ways, the prayer of Psalm 72 was fulfilled in the life of King Solomon. But like his father, David, Solomon did not live up to all the hopes invested in him. He was not the perfect king—he was not the ultimate hope of Israel. And because no Old Testament king ever fulfilled all the hopes and promises set out in God’s Word for that perfect king, the people of Israel continued to wait and lo...

The psalmist who wrote Psalm 42 is far from home—he feels far from the people and the Lord he loves—and he is facing opposition in a hostile land. He is homesick in every way—socially, geographically, spiritually. If we have our sights set on our heavenly home—if we are longing for the day when we will see the Lord face-to-face—if we are a people who know the pressures of this world and the opposi...

The psalmist who wrote Psalm 42 is far from home—he feels far from the people and the Lord he loves—and he is facing opposition in a hostile land. He is homesick in every way—socially, geographically, spiritually. If we have our sights set on our heavenly home—if we are longing for the day when we will see the Lord face-to-face—if we are a people who know the pressures of this world and the opposi...

We see bad people not only getting away with doing bad things, but prospering and flourishing as they do so. And if we’re honest, it gets to us at least some of the time. This feeling is nothing new. It’s what prompted King David to write this Psalm. And he has this to say about it: "Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! For they will soon fade like the grass and wi...

We see bad people not only getting away with doing bad things, but prospering and flourishing as they do so. And if we’re honest, it gets to us at least some of the time. This feeling is nothing new. It’s what prompted King David to write this Psalm. And he has this to say about it: "Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! For they will soon fade like the grass and wi...

David knows that the Lord is committed to protecting those of his covenant community; he knows that God is a God of faithfulness to his people; a God of mercy to those who call on him. If we are sensible and wise people, we will want to join David and cry out to the Lord as he cries out, "Keep me safe, O God."

David knows that the Lord is committed to protecting those of his covenant community; he knows that God is a God of faithfulness to his people; a God of mercy to those who call on him. If we are sensible and wise people, we will want to join David and cry out to the Lord as he cries out, "Keep me safe, O God."

Abraham seeks to be faithful in finding a wife for Isaac from among his family (and not the surrounding nations) and in staying in the land of promise. God honours this in providing Rebekah for Isaac. Thus the family line is secured, and Abraham dies enjoying the blessing of God on every side. Despite all the ups and downs of his faith and failure, God has blessed him and his family, just as he pr...

Abraham seeks to be faithful in finding a wife for Isaac from among his family (and not the surrounding nations) and in staying in the land of promise. God honours this in providing Rebekah for Isaac. Thus the family line is secured, and Abraham dies enjoying the blessing of God on every side. Despite all the ups and downs of his faith and failure, God has blessed him and his family, just as he pr...

Abraham’s decision to buy a parcel of land in the promised land to bury Sarah affirms his trust in the Lord’s promise that this land will be his and his children’s. Yet, the fact that Sarah dies there as a sojourner and the fact that so much of the covenant promise has yet to be fulfilled acts as a stark reminder that God’s people are sojourners on this earth, awaiting the fulfilment of all God’s...

Abraham’s decision to buy a parcel of land in the promised land to bury Sarah affirms his trust in the Lord’s promise that this land will be his and his children’s. Yet, the fact that Sarah dies there as a sojourner and the fact that so much of the covenant promise has yet to be fulfilled acts as a stark reminder that God’s people are sojourners on this earth, awaiting the fulfilment of all God’s...

In a very great test of faith, Abraham is called to give up Isaac and trust God’s power to restore him. God does so by providing a sacrifice in his place. Here on the mount we are given a picture of what God will do to keep and fulfil his covenant—he will give his own Son to be the sacrifice and the substitution.

In a very great test of faith, Abraham is called to give up Isaac and trust God’s power to restore him. God does so by providing a sacrifice in his place. Here on the mount we are given a picture of what God will do to keep and fulfil his covenant—he will give his own Son to be the sacrifice and the substitution.

Despite all the improbability of an elderly and childless couple having a son, God keeps his promise and gives Isaac to Abraham and Sarah. His faithfulness to the promise has not been undermined by the sin and failure of his servants. In addition to this, God shows his faithfulness to Hagar and Ishmael. God is entirely faithful to his promises—more faithful that we can imagine or comprehend.

Despite all the improbability of an elderly and childless couple having a son, God keeps his promise and gives Isaac to Abraham and Sarah. His faithfulness to the promise has not been undermined by the sin and failure of his servants. In addition to this, God shows his faithfulness to Hagar and Ishmael. God is entirely faithful to his promises—more faithful that we can imagine or comprehend.

In a very unfortunate case of déjà vu, Abraham fears for his own safety on account of his wife as he leads his family into foreign territory. As he did in Egypt some 35 years before, he decides to pretend she is merely his sister to escape any trouble on her account. In the events that ensue, a Gentile king puts Abraham to shame by his good behaviour—and God shows his faithfulness to his faltering...

In a very unfortunate case of déjà vu, Abraham fears for his own safety on account of his wife as he leads his family into foreign territory. As he did in Egypt some 35 years before, he decides to pretend she is merely his sister to escape any trouble on her account. In the events that ensue, a Gentile king puts Abraham to shame by his good behaviour—and God shows his faithfulness to his faltering...

Here we see the ugliness of sin unveiled, the judgment of God revealed, and his mercy poured out. We see judgment on Sodom and mercy and salvation in the rescue of Lot and his undeserving family. Tragically, salvation from Sodom does not purge sin from the heart, as the sin of Lot’s family so vividly illustrates.

Here we see the ugliness of sin unveiled, the judgment of God revealed, and his mercy poured out. We see judgment on Sodom and mercy and salvation in the rescue of Lot and his undeserving family. Tragically, salvation from Sodom does not purge sin from the heart, as the sin of Lot’s family so vividly illustrates.

Divine messengers come to Abram’s home to bring the good news of the blessing of a child to come. But the same messengers who visit Abram with news of divine favour have as their next destination the sinful city of Sodom, where judgment will fall. It is a powerful reminder that the Lord who blesses is also the Lord who judges.