How does God feed us? In that great passage from the servant songs in Isaiah, the prophet says, “He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young” (Is. 40:11). Notice that God does …
Fifth Decade of Psalms/Psalm 43
INTRODUCTION: The 43rd Psalm is very similar to the one before it, and in a handful of manuscripts it is even included together with it. But rather than consider it as a detached portion of the 42nd Psalm, it is a simpler explanation to consider this as a supplement, composed with the previous psalm in …
Centurions As Alms-Givers
Karl Marx famously said that religion was the opiate of the masses. Although his taunt misses true religion, there are many forms of religion in the world that his arrow hits dead center. One of them would be the Pharisaism of Jesus’ day. We often miss the import of the Lord’s teaching, his cryptic sayings, …
Wanting to Outsource the Sacrifice
We have been considering the fact that God in His kindness feeds His people. And as He does so, He does this as a pattern for us to emulate and follow. The Lord offers us His broken body, and this is a figure that we imitate. It is not the case that food just appears …
Fifth Decade of Psalms/Psalm 42
INTRODUCTION: This next psalm is not attributed directly to David, although it is almost certainly his. The psalm is given to the chief musician, for the sons of Korah to sing. These were probably the descendants of the same Korah who rebelled against Moses in the wilderness (Num. 16). THE TEXT: “As the hart panteth …
He Feeds Us With Judgment
In the words of the prophet Ezekiel, we read this: “I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord God” (Ez. 34:15). The Lord really is our Shepherd, and the Lord really does see to it that the flock is fed. It is striking that in the passage …
Grace and Mercy Both
Our God is a God of both grace and mercy. In the English language, grace is generally unearned, unmerited favor. Mercy is demerited favor that we receive anyway. When we have forfeited goodness, and God gives it to us anyway, He is showing mercy. When Adam was first created, he had obviously done nothing to …
Fifth Decade of Psalms/Psalm 41
INTRODUCTION: The great theme of this particular psalm is the betrayal of Jesus by Judas Iscariot, but as we recognize the nature of types and antitypes, we see many THE TEXT: “Blessed is he that considereth the poora : the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble . . . ” (Ps. 41:1-13). OUTLINE AND …
Standing on a High Rock Next to the Devil
Struggling with temptations of the flesh can certainly keep us busy. When we finally feel like we are getting mastery over them, and we are starting to feel that secure feeling of superiority over others, we think it is because we have been making real progress in our sanctification. But in reality, we are moving …
Because You’re Family
In Psalm 28, David asks the Lord to separate His people out from the wicked. He asks the Lord to deliver them from the judgment that is coming upon them. When he concludes this psalm, the way he puts it is striking. “Save thy people, and bless thine inheritance: feed them also, and lift them …