The earth was without form and void
Apr 28
"I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light" (Jeremiah 4:23). The language in this verse is clearly patterned after Genesis 1:2, the description of the primordial earth: "And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep." That it is a metaphor, however, and not an actual reference to that primordial earth is evident from its context. The previous verse speaks of "my people" (that is, the people of Judah) and the following verse of "the mountains" (there were no mountains as yet at the time of Genesis 1:2). Furthermore, the broader context makes it plain that the prophet is speaking of a coming judgment on the land of Judah because of the rebellion of its people against their God (verse 16 specifically mentions Judah, and verse 31 mentions Zion). The land is to be so devastated that the prophet compared its future appearance to the unformed and barren earth at its very beginning.
Christian retirement? Gotta’ be kidding…
Apr 20
"Now Joshua was old and stricken in years; and the Lord said unto him, Thou art old and stricken in years, and there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed" (Joshua 13:1). There is no set "retirement age" for the Christian, for there is always "yet very much land to be possessed." Joshua had survived forty years in the wilderness, then led in the long hard conquest of Canaan, and was now at least 80 years of age. Not only was he "old and stricken in years," but God even told him he was old! But instead of allowing him to settle down to enjoy a few retirement years in his hard-won new home, God merely sent Joshua out once again for still further conquests. That must always be the case with those who love and serve the Lord. There is still much Scripture to study and learn, many people yet to reach with a gospel witness, many with whom to share God's love and comfort, much money yet to be earned to give to missions. Even those who must retire from active service, or become confined at home, still have much praying to accomplish. No one who knows the redemptive love of Jesus Christ is ever too old to possess more "land" for the Lord. "The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing" (Psalm 92:12-14).
Dark valleys
Apr 13
"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me" (Psalm 23:4). There are many dark valleys mentioned in Scripture, and these typify the many sufferings and hard experiences through which the people of God must pass. "For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His sake" (Philippians 1:29). The valley of Achor--which means "trouble"--was so named because sin in the camp of God's people had caused great defeat for their armies there (Joshua 7:25-26). Willful sin inevitably must result eventually in a trek through the dark vale of trouble and defeat. Then there is the vale of tears called Baca, or "weeping." Opinions differ as to whether this was an actual valley in Israel, but it came to symbolize a time of deep loss and sorrow. Repentance and restitution will lead one out of the valley of Achor, but God's comfort will guide through Baca. "Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee. . . . Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well. . . . They go from strength to strength" (Psalm 84:5-7).
World judged once by water, next by fire
Apr 06
"Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished" (II Peter 3:6). In comparing the intensity and global extent of the coming judgment of sinful mankind, "in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up" (v.10), to the intensity of the historic judgment of sinful man at the time of the Flood (the denial of which constitutes willful ignorance, v.5), Peter uses extraordinary language. The word "overflowed" in our text translates the mighty Greek word, katakluzo, from which we get our word "cataclysm." In the Greek New Testament, this word is only used to refer to Noah's Flood (see Matthew 24:38-39; Luke 17:27; II Peter 2:5); other words were used for other, local floods (see Luke 6:48 and Revelation 12:15). Such a distinction is likewise borne out in the Old Testament. The Hebrew word for "Flood" used over and over again in Genesis 6-11 is mabul (see also Psalm 29:10) and stands as qualitatively distinct from other lesser floods, both of water and figuratively of invading armies, or the Red Sea crossing.
English