Passage, Paragraph, and Prayer

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

This is the sixth of eight devotions on the first gospel promise in Genesis 3:15. In this devotion we consider how the promise was vague enough to frustrate the devil, but clear enough to communicate to him that he would lose and to communicate comfort and hope to Adam and Eve and their offspring. Music Credit: J. S. Bach, “Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten,” aria from “Jesu, der du...

Even when the total population of the earth consisted only of believers, right after the Flood, God still said that there was a problem with the way their heart was inclined. So it is no surprise that the psalmist teaches us to pray that God would incline our heart a different way than its natural way. Music Credit: Johann Sebastian Bach, Trio from Brandenburg Concerto, No. 1, Movement 4

This is the fifth of eight devotions on the first gospel promise in Genesis 3:15. In this devotion we take a closer look at the mutual hostility that God established between the devil’s seed (unbelievers) and the woman’s seed (believers), which continues to the present. Music Credit: J. S. Bach, “Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten,” aria from “Jesu, der du meine Seele,” BWV 78 (Leipzi...

If you delight in doing something or going somewhere, you don’t need help doing it or going there. You just do it. But in spiritual affairs, we need God to cause us and strengthen us to walk in the path in which our delight is found. Music Credit: Johann Sebastian Bach, Trio from Brandenburg Concerto, No. 1, Movement 4

This is the fourth of eight devotions on the first gospel promise in Genesis 3:15. In this devotion we see, and thank God, that he didn’t limit the hostility he established to the devil and Eve alone, but also included their “seed” or offspring. Music Credit: J. S. Bach, “Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten,” aria from “Jesu, der du meine Seele,” BWV 78 (Leipzig, 1724).

It’s not just enough to know what God’s law says. We also need to understand what it means and the heart of God behind it. That means that Jesus isn’t just the key to the gospel; he’s also the key to the law. Music Credit: Johann Sebastian Bach, Trio from Brandenburg Concerto, No. 1, Movement 4

This is the third of eight devotions on the first gospel promise in Genesis 3:15. In this devotion we consider how God addressed the first gospel promise to Satan, for the benefit of Adam and Eve, and all Satan could do was listen as the loser. Music Credit: J. S. Bach, “Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten,” aria from “Jesu, der du meine Seele,” BWV 78 (Leipzig, 1724).

This is the second of eight devotions on the first gospel promise in Genesis 3:15. In this devotion we consider how God *alone* needed to redirect mankind’s hostility after the fall into sin. He could not simply advise or command mankind to have such hostility. Music Credit: J. S. Bach, “Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten,” aria from “Jesu, der du meine Seele,” BWV 78 (Leipzig, 1724).

“Direct me in the way of your decrees,” the psalmist says. The idea is that we need to be an arrow in God’s bow in order to persevere on the path to heaven. Music Credit: Johann Sebastian Bach, Trio from Brandenburg Concerto, No. 1, Movement 4

Did you know that those humans (and animals) who are consistently the best and most powerful long-distance runners not only have a strong body, but also a large heart? We, too, need a large heart for the race of life, and the psalmist tells us where we can get one. Music Credit: Johann Sebastian Bach, Trio from Brandenburg Concerto, No. 1, Movement 4

This is the first of eight devotions on the first gospel promise in Genesis 3:15. In this devotion we consider how God needed to redirect mankind’s hostility after the fall into sin. Music Credit: J. S. Bach, “Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten,” aria from “Jesu, der du meine Seele,” BWV 78 (Leipzig, 1724).

What does it mean to be put to shame? And what shame do you fear most? Music Credit: Johann Sebastian Bach, Trio from Brandenburg Concerto, No. 1, Movement 4

When we hear God’s curse on the serpent in Genesis 3:14, questions naturally arise: Why did God punish the serpent, when the devil was the one tempting Adam and Eve through the serpent? Did the serpent not get around by crawling before God cursed it? In this devotion, Pastor Biebert addresses these questions while reminding us of the important truths at the heart of this curse. Music Credit: J. S....

“The way of truth I have chosen.” Is that even possible for us? Doesn’t Jesus himself say elsewhere, “You did not choose me, but I chose you” (John 15:16)? How then should we understand this psalm verse? Music Credit: Johann Sebastian Bach, Trio from Brandenburg Concerto, No. 1, Movement 4

God pronounces a curse on the devil and gives mankind the first gospel promise *before* they have even expressed their repentance. This is a clear demonstration of God’s grace or undeserved love. 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 asks God not to turn him away from falsehood, but to turn the way of falsehood away from him. Why does he phrase it that way? What are we praying when we repeat his words? Music Credit: Johann Sebastian Bach, Trio from Brandenburg Concerto, No. 1, Movement 4

“What have I done?” “What have you done?” In rhetorical questions like this, we detect the anguish in the person asking them. In Genesis 3:13, as God moves on to the woman to call her to repentance, we detect God’s anguish over the fall into sin. Music Credit: J. S. Bach, “Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten,” aria from “Jesu, der du meine Seele,” BWV 78 (Leipzig, 1724).

In Psalm 119:28, the psalmist describes his soul melting away in grief. What does grief do to you? And where can you go to find relief from it? Music Credit: Johann Sebastian Bach, Trio from Brandenburg Concerto, No. 1, Movement 4

In Genesis 3:12 we note how fallen humans tend to point the finger at other people and things, even God, for their own wrongs, and how sin not only ruins our relationship with God, but also with one another. In this devotion we look at how sin hurts our relationships with those close to us. Music Credit: J. S. Bach, “Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten,” aria from “Jesu, der du meine S...

What is at the heart of God’s word? And what then should be the effect of studying it? Music Credit: Johann Sebastian Bach, Trio from Brandenburg Concerto, No. 1, Movement 4