Category: Bible Study

“Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, but whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.” –Matthew 23:12 Jesus criticized some religious leaders for being proud. Pride was the reason for some of them being spiritually blind, fools, and hypocrites (see Mt 23:13, 17). Therefore, Jesus called them to humble themselves, and He calls us to do the same (Mt 23:12). Jesus “humbled Himself, obediently accepting even death, death on a cross!” (Phil 2:8) Jesus, gentle and humble of heart, wants to make our hearts like His (Mt 11:29). He wants “a people humble and lowly” (Zep 3:12). The Lord commands us: “In...

“Both Mahlon and Chilion died also, and the woman was left with neither her two sons nor her husband.” –Ruth 1:5 Ruth’s husband, father-in-law, and brother-in-law had died. All of these men had moved to Moab to escape death from starvation (Ru 1:1), but they only delayed death for ten years (Ru 1:4). Ruth swallowed up death in victory (1 Cor 15:54) by her faithfulness to Naomi in obedience to God. She reversed the march of death by marrying Boaz, giving birth to Obed, and becoming the great grandmother of David (Ru 4:22). It was from David’s family that Jesus...

“Whoever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me when I return in triumph from the Ammonites shall belong to the Lord. I shall offer him up as a holocaust.” –Judges 11:31 In our secular humanistic society, we are rather ignorant concerning spiritual power. Many ancient peoples were in some ways more advanced than we are in regard to spiritual realities. Jephthah knew what few people in our society realize: that there was exceptional power in taking a vow to offer a human sacrifice (see Jgs 11:30-31). When he took this vow, he defeated the Ammonites in...

“Must I give up…?” –Judges 9:9, 11, 13 In Jotham’s story, three trees were asked to lead the other trees (Jgs 9:8ff). All three trees declined to serve because they would have had to give up what was most precious about themselves. Jotham’s story teaches us that: Love, leadership, and service mean sacrifice. The Lord calls us to sacrifice not only little things but the most important aspects of our lives – indeed, our very selves. A refusal to sacrifice hurts others greatly and will eventually destroy us. “Whoever would save his life will lose it” (Lk 9:24). Jesus was...