Providence Community Church

Imagine yourself as an Egyptian servant in the court of Joseph during his reign in the land. Years and years have passed from the moments we witness in our text today. You have a limited yet growing appreciation for the God of the Hebrews, recognizing the calling and blessing upon the the second in command of your nation. You hear that Joseph's family will be relocating to your country due to fami...

The account of Jacob vs. Esau and the events surrounding conflict in Isaac's home dramatically illustrate the principle declared in Psalm 127: “ unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.” Isaac intends to give the patriarchal blessing to Esau, though Jacob is the covenant son. Jacob conspires to steal the blessing and through his efforts successfully tricks his father. He...

Psalm 119 joins 25, 34, 37, 111, 112, and 145 as the 6th acrostic psalm in the Psalter. The acrostic psalms represent a unique literary form where a series of stanzas usually begins with the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet and continues each stanza following the last introduced with the next letter in alphabetical order. The purposes of this device are likely manifold. As we have noted, the fo...

Peter can be compared to a skilled health practitioner who upon assessing a patient's physical condition, prescribes a regimen of beneficial supplements to reinforce the immune system, muscle strength, and endurance. Similar to a nutritionist who might recommend vitamins, foods, or activities designed to fortify heath and vitality, Peter addresses the spiritual health of the early church in a simi...

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The Plight of Neglect: Weeds & Walls - Proverbs 24:30-34 1. The Vineyard is Unattended  2. The Vineyard is Unprotected

The faithfulness of the ultimate Covenant Keeper – Yahweh Himself – continues to be the only redeeming element in this account of covenant succession and patriarchal blessing. Isaac’s negligence in this regard is evident in contrast to the testimony of his father. Though Abraham had his share of faults and failures, he had no delusions as to God's purposes in messianic lineage. He understood and a...

Today's Psalm is singular in a number of ways beyond its stand alone beauty & authority. In the context of Ps 117, which proclaims an international call to worship, Ps 118 serves to declare the judicial consequences for nations who will not bow to the Lord. In the context of historical occasions, Ps 118 serves as a fitting worship anthem for victorious kings or for memorial occasions like the...

The circumstances of Peter's ministry now provide him opportunity to leave his flock with words to remember in his absence. Following the example of Jesus, who commissioned him and all the church to go and make disciples in Matthew 28, Peter gives his hearers marching orders which likewise will provide direction to the church after he has died. The death of the apostles might have been the end of...

In Genesis 26, the trajectory of events begins with turmoil that eventually gives way to gracious provision and covenant reassurance. These themes are marked by the naming of wells – Esek: (quarreling), Sitnah (hostility), Rehoboth (broad places), and Shibah (oath). These themes of Isaac's experience in Gerar are now playing themselves out in his family. The generational aspects of covenant succes...

The duration of Isaac's stay in Gerar mirrors the experiences and growing influence of Abraham who preceded him. In Gen 20, Abraham enters this region as a timid sojourner only to witness the tables turn as God prospers him and the inhabitants increasingly recognize that he is “ a prince of God among them” (23:6). This is the confession of the Hittites as Abraham engages in negotiations for a buri...

The 5th 'Hallel' Psalm is unique in several ways. It is the shortest psalm and the shortest chapter in the Bible. It is situated near the center of the entire cannon. It extends the scope of covenant hope far beyond ethnic Israel's borders. Finally, It is cited as a primary prophecy of Gentile Gospel inclusion (Rom 15). As many have noted, though it is brief by word count, its theme is colossal. W...

The letter of First Peter opens & closes with salutations appropriate for the encouragement of a body of believers facing trying times (1:2b) “...may grace and peace be multiplied to you” (5:14b) “...peace to all of you who are in Christ.” Other key features reinforce the apostle's purpose in writing. Perhaps the most succinct theme verse of the epistle is found in (4:19) “Therefore let those...

Abraham has died. The calling to sojourn in faith of obtaining covenant promises has now been passed to Isaac – the appointed son. We are about to witness another momentous occasion profoundly confirming the purposes of God to the next of Abraham's kin. This account is marked by striking parallels throughout. The experiences of father and son are remarkably similar both in blessing and in frailty....

The “Reformation Study Bible” summarizes and introduces the Genesis record of Isaac and family in the following language: “The account of Isaac is one of conflict between Isaac and Rebekah (v:28, ch 27), Jacob and Esau (25,27,37), Jacob and Laban (29-31), Leah and Rachel (28,30), and finally and decisively between Jacob and the Angel of the Lord (32)”.... The notes go on to say: “Overarching the e...

Ps 116 is the 4th of the 'Hallel' set – songs chosen for worship of the Lord upon deliverance from Egypt under Moses. This particular hymn expresses worship for personal deliverance, reminding us that salvation in the Kingdom of God has both corporate and individual implications. God saves a nation, a priesthood, a church, a multitude, one heart at a time. How ought the heart of the delivered resp...

The biography of Abraham closes in Genesis 25 after a lengthy record of trial and blessing in the life of this pivotal patriarch of the faith. Abraham's legacy will continue however, through his family lines. At the end of his days, several themes which have followed his life story, and will accompany the ongoing story of redemption, are prominent. First: the unmistakable sovereign hand of God pre...

Waiting is dangerous. Toward the end of Jesus' earthly ministry, He illustrated the call to vigilance between advents of redemptive history by way of parable. The parables of the 10 virgins and the talents (Mat 25) communicate proper orientation for disciples who find themselves called to faithful gospel service in the time between Christ's visitations. Peter echoes these admonishments to the chur...

Suspense & anticipation continue to build in this exemplary faith and love story. Securing a covenant bride for Isaac, the Spirit of God has accompanied Abraham's servant and answered his earnest prayer. By ordering these events in a moving display of divine providence, Abraham's ambassador recognizes Yahweh has “prospered his way”. Indeed the servant's own faith in this journey has been welco...

Abraham is now around 140 years of age, Isaac himself about 40, and once again the entire covenant hinges on one outstanding situation: securing a bride for Isaac. One could easily empathize with Abraham's reaction if he were to entertain anxiety and frustration at this juncture. However Abraham is a mature man at this point in the record, not just in years, but also in faith. The patriarch commis...

Psalm 115, the 3rd of the 'Hallel' songs sets forth a clear perspective for the discerning. If Yahweh is creator/ruler of all reality from the heavens (realms beyond our tangible grasp), to earth (the domain of human beings)... How are we to view our relationship to Him and how are we to weigh the claims of His enemies? The psalmist’s logic is transcendental. He answers these questions from an ove...

 I Peter chapter 4 closes with a statement which could serve as the summary theme of Peter's entire 1st letter: “Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.”  Our last message from I Peter closed on this verse which raises an important question: 'Who can we trust with our souls?' -or- 'Who DO we trust with our souls?'.  A milli...

Toward the end of his days and upon the death of his beloved wife Sarah,  Abraham finally secures his first legal claim in the land of promise.  Burial preparations for Sarah provide occasion to negotiate for a cemetery plot that will house the bones of three generations of patriarchs awaiting the promises of God to be fulfilled beyond the grave.  This event profoundly illustrates faith supersedin...

Two major structural elements in the Genesis record help us to understand the significance of events in chapter 22 in their greater context. The first element is the recurring emphasis on covenant throughout the biography of the patriarch. Gen 12 opens the early chapters of Abraham's life with covenant Promised. God reveals to His servant that He will make of him a great nation, and in Abraham all...

Psalm 114 follows 113 as the 2nd of the 'Hallel' (praise) Psalms which continue through 118. These become the featured songs commemorating the deliverance of the Lord through the ages at festivals and feast. Historians often place the authorship of this Psalm post Babylonian exile due to its use of 'Judah' with reference to the whole of the people of God. One can certainly imagine a worthy occasio...