Category: Bible Study

“Would You not have us call down fire?” –Luke 9:54 James and John asked Jesus: ” ‘Lord, would You not have us call down fire from heaven to destroy them?’ [Jesus] turned toward them only to reprimand them” (Lk 9:54-55). On another occasion, Jesus proclaimed: “I have come to light a fire on the earth. How I wish the blaze were ignited!” (Lk 12:49) Sometimes Jesus wants to call down fire; at other times, He doesn’t. Elijah was the world champion in calling down fire from heaven (see 1 Kgs 18:38; 2 Kgs 1:10, 12; Sir 48:3). However, on at...

“They did not lay bare your guilt, to avert your fate.” –Lamentations 2:14 Solomon built a temple in Jerusalem as a dwelling place for the Lord. God was pleased and came to dwell in the Temple. “The Lord’s glory filled the house of God” (2 Chr 5:14). During the next three-hundred years, Jerusalem was miraculously spared from attack on several occasions (e.g. 2 Kgs 19:35). Eventually the people grew complacent and neglected the Lord’s commands, falling into lifestyles of sin and injustice. Many “prophets” of the time fueled this lax attitude with “false and specious visions” and “misleading portents” (Lam...

“What will this child be?” –Luke 1:66 St. Augustine noted that we celebrate John the Baptizer’s birthday after the summer equinox, when daylight begins to lessen in the northern hemisphere, and we celebrate Jesus’ birthday after the winter equinox, when daylight begins to increase. St. Augustine connected this with John’s statement regarding Jesus: “He must increase, while I must decrease” (Jn 3:30). Today, may there be more of Jesus in your life and less of you. May you continue this pattern each day until you can truthfully say: “It is no longer I that live but Christ Who lives within...

“Out of My sight, you evildoers!” –Matthew 7:23 How bad can things get? We could unconditionally surrender to the enemy and be led captive into exile (2 Kgs 24:12). The treasures of our faith could be carried off, and we could witness horrific sacrileges (see 2 Kgs 24:13). We could be brought so “very low” (Ps 79:8) that “there is no one to bury” the dead (Ps 79:3). Consequently, the corpses of God’s servants became “food to the birds of heaven” and “to the beasts of the earth” (Ps 79:2). Just imagine a dog or a rat chewing on your...

“When the king had heard the contents of the book of the law, he tore his garments.” –2 Kings 22:11 When King Josiah heard the book of the law read, he rent his garments. Josiah knew that God’s people were accountable to obey God’s Word whether they cared enough to know it or not. He also knew that God’s people were not obeying God’s Word and thereby were under condemnation (2 Kgs 22:13). Thus, in deep sorrow for sin and in dread of punishment, Josiah rent his garments. The prophetess, Huldah, prophesied regarding Josiah and his rending of his garments:...