Passage, Paragraph, and Prayer

How tragic it is when a person’s hopes are dashed so often that he no longer even desires to have hope. In this first verse of the seventh stanza of Psalm 119, the psalmist asks that God would never disappoint him like that—and he asks this of God on the firmest possible basis. Music Credit: Johann Sebastian Bach, Trio from Brandenburg Concerto, No. 1, Movement 4

By banishing Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden, God deprived them of a number of good things he himself had given them. But he did so for their own good. Music Credit: J. S. Bach, “Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten,” aria from “Jesu, der du meine Seele,” BWV 78 (Leipzig, 1724).

“I will lift up my palms to your commands,” the psalmist says. What does that mean? In this devotion, we learn both about prayer and about what we can expect to received from God’s word. Music Credit: Johann Sebastian Bach, Trio from Brandenburg Concerto, No. 1, Movement 4

After the fall into sin, Adam and Eve, with their sense dulled from sin, clothed themselves with fig leaves. God now clothes them properly, and in so doing reinforces their sense of shame and reinforces the consequences of sin. Music Credit: J. S. Bach, “Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten,” aria from “Jesu, der du meine Seele,” BWV 78 (Leipzig, 1724).

We amuse ourselves with what we love, both because what we love naturally leads us to have fun with it, and because amusing ourselves with it helps to ensure we will continue to love it. The psalmist encourages us to do that with God’s word, our greatest love. Music Credit: Johann Sebastian Bach, Trio from Brandenburg Concerto, No. 1, Movement 4

Eve’s name, which means “life,” didn’t just allude to the fact that humans got to keep on living, instead of all being struck dead. It also alluded to the spiritual and eternal life that God would give humans through faith in his promises. Music Credit: J. S. Bach, “Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten,” aria from “Jesu, der du meine Seele,” BWV 78 (Leipzig, 1724).

Karl Marx once famously described religion as “the opiate of the masses,” which implies it’s for simple people leading ordinary lives. But the psalmist reminds us in Psalm 119:46 that we cannot be put to shame even when testifying to God’s word in front of the high and mighty.  Music Credit: Johann Sebastian Bach, Trio from Brandenburg Concerto, No. 1, Movement 4

For all the consequences of sin Adam and Eve and their descendants would have to endure, there was one they didn’t, or at least didn’t have to, if they believed in God’s promise. And that fact was a source of monumental disappointment to the devil, and was celebrated in the name that Adam gave to his wife. Music Credit: J. S. Bach, “Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten,” aria from “Jesu...

Many people feel trapped and stuck in a very small world due to their circumstances and, more importantly, their religion. Only Christianity gives us perfect freedom, no matter how limiting our physical, earthly circumstances. Music Credit: Johann Sebastian Bach, Trio from Brandenburg Concerto, No. 1, Movement 4

The other consequences for sin would be trivial if it weren’t for the ultimate one—death. We can shake our fist at the reality, thick-headedly try to undo it ourselves, try to hide from it as long as possible, or seek the remedy. Music Credit: J. S. Bach, “Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten,” aria from “Jesu, der du meine Seele,” BWV 78 (Leipzig, 1724).

Having resolve to keep God’s law is a good and Christian thing. But what does it mean to “keep God’s law”? And where does the strength come from to act on that resolve? Music Credit: Johann Sebastian Bach, Trio from Brandenburg Concerto, No. 1, Movement 4

Ever tried to plant a garden? Weeds and animals try to ruin your work, and in the meantime, delicious fruit grows in the wild all on its own. God talks about this consequence of sin in Genesis 3:17–19. Music Credit: J. S. Bach, “Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten,” aria from “Jesu, der du meine Seele,” BWV 78 (Leipzig, 1724).

The psalmist’s prayer in Psalm 119:43 might lead us to conclude that God actually snatches his word of truth from our mouths, and that we need to ask him to restrain himself. What the psalmist is actually describing is something to which all Christians can relate to a greater or lesser extent. Music Credit: Johann Sebastian Bach, Trio from Brandenburg Concerto, No. 1, Movement 4

In this devotion, we consider how God’s rebuking of Adam and Eve, and his consequences for each of them, both tell us something about his wiring of the sexes, and how sin ruins our lives precisely where we find our greatest fulfillment. Music Credit: J. S. Bach, “Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten,” aria from “Jesu, der du meine Seele,” BWV 78 (Leipzig, 1724).

There are two slightly different ways to translate Psalm 119:42. But both of them underscore that only God gives us the strength and the words to answer those who criticize us when we believe and live according to God’s word. Music Credit: Johann Sebastian Bach, Trio from Brandenburg Concerto, No. 1, Movement 4

In this devotion, we consider how God rebuked Adam for putting his wife’s voice ahead of God’s own voice. Have you stopped to think about what that would have meant for Adam if he would have put God first? Music Credit: J. S. Bach, “Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten,” aria from “Jesu, der du meine Seele,” BWV 78 (Leipzig, 1724).

The psalmist opens the sixth stanza of Psalm 119 by expanding on his conclusion to the fifth stanza. In so doing, he reminds us of a basic truth of our salvation: God comes to us; we do not come to him. Music Credit: Johann Sebastian Bach, Trio from Brandenburg Concerto, No. 1, Movement 4

Not only did God announce pain in conception and childbearing for the woman in consequence of her sin; he also announced that her desire or longing would be for her husband. In this devotion, Pastor Biebert explores what God is referring to. Music Credit: J. S. Bach, “Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten,” aria from “Jesu, der du meine Seele,” BWV 78 (Leipzig, 1724).

The psalmist concludes the fifth stanza of Psalm 119 reminding us what we should long for most and why. Music Credit: Johann Sebastian Bach, Trio from Brandenburg Concerto, No. 1, Movement 4

Even though Genesis 3:16 occurs within a structure where the first gospel promise, the crushing of the devil’s head, is the focus, there are still consequences for sin for both the woman and the man. These consequences are meant to help us associate sin with pain—the opposite of that with which Satan wants us to associate sin. Music Credit: J. S. Bach, “Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schrit...

John Donne’s poem, “A Hymn to God the Father,” serves as a wonderful commentary on, and prayer for, Psalm 119:39. Music Credit: Johann Sebastian Bach, Trio from Brandenburg Concerto, No. 1, Movement 4

This is the eighth and final devotion on the first gospel promise in Genesis 3:15. In this devotion we consider how this is not just a promise fulfilled in Jesus, but also in his believers. Music Credit: J. S. Bach, “Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten,” aria from “Jesu, der du meine Seele,” BWV 78 (Leipzig, 1724).

Fearing God has both a law- and a gospel-aspect to it. We explore both aspects in this devotion. Music Credit: Johann Sebastian Bach, Trio from Brandenburg Concerto, No. 1, Movement 4

This is the seventh of eight devotions on the first gospel promise in Genesis 3:15. In this devotion we consider how God already hinted at the virgin birth of his Son in this promise. Music Credit: J. S. Bach, “Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten,” aria from “Jesu, der du meine Seele,” BWV 78 (Leipzig, 1724).

“Cause my eyes to avoid sights of emptiness; revive me with your word,” the psalmist says. In this episode Pastor Biebert explores the concept of sights of emptiness—sights that we look to to be perked up and revived, but that actually do the opposite. Music Credit: Johann Sebastian Bach, Trio from Brandenburg Concerto, No. 1, Movement 4