“Short and Sweet”

April 11, 2024

April 11, 2024

Read Numbers 31, Psalm 116-118

Sometimes we don’t need to say much to get our point across. My grandfather was a preacher and when my brother and I were younger occasionally we would go spend the weekend with them and go to church with them on a Sunday. I always liked going to their church for several reasons, but one of those was that my grandfather’s sermons were usually no longer that 12-15 minutes. He had a knack for saying what he wanted to say in a short and sweet way without belaboring the point.

Psalm 117 is the smallest psalm in the Bible. It consists of two verses. Twenty-nine words in English (26 in Hebrew). The short and simple message is a message to all the nations to praise the Lord for his great love. God’s love is faithful throughout all generations.

Here is the entire psalm.

Praise the Lord, all you nations;

extol him, all you peoples.

2 For great is his love towards us,

and the faithfulness of the Lord endures for ever.

Praise the Lord.

What else do you see in these chapters? What stands out to you?
Add your thoughts below.

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Posted by John Weldon

“Not To You But For You”

April 6, 2024

April 6, 2024

Read Numbers 26, Psalm 101-103

When you read the Bible it is important to remember that the Bible is not written to you originally but it is for you to read today and for your benefit. There are a few exceptions to this statement in the Bible. For example, in John 17 Jesus prayed for the future believers who would believe in Him because of the disciples. In Psalm 102 we find another instance of this. Verse 18 reads “Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the LORD” v. 18. We may read the psalm or other parts of the Bible and it will bring praise to the Lord as we have seen God’s promises come true and see how God acts and interacts with his creation. I want to urge you to read the Scripture and not to just read it as a historical account but allow it to bring forth praise to the Lord for who He is and what He has done.

What have you read today that will cause you to praise Him? Add your thoughts below.

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Posted by John Weldon

“Music”

April 5, 2024

April 5, 2024

Read Numbers 25, Psalm 98-100

What’s your favorite genre of music? Do you have a favorite singer or band? Do you prefer the older music of your early years or the newer music of today? Maybe you love it all! Music has been around since the early chapters of Genesis. Genesis 4:21 mentions that sons of Jubal were the ones who played string instruments and pipes. The psalms are an expression of the hearts of Israel. They were put to music and sung in their native Hebrew language. Psalm 95 instructs us, “Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him” v. 1. There will always be new songs that come because God is doing new things. God is always working. Whether or not we see it or recognize it is another thing.

There are different types of music. Some are love songs, others are blues or dirges. Some songs are filled with fun and joy from life’s moments. The author of Psalm 95 is apparently filled with Joy when he says, “Let the sea resound, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. 8 Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy;” vv. 7-8.

What is something you can “sing” about today? How would you express yourself through music today if you wrote a song? Would it be focused on joy or be more of a lament or a blues song? Maybe you would prefer to express yourself with a poem.

What else do you see in these chapters? What words, phrases, or themes stand out to you?
Add your thoughts below.

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Posted by John Weldon