Notes from my Bible Study for January 11, 2010

Passages Read Today: Psalm 10, Genesis 11, 1 Chronicles 11, Luke 7:1‐35


Psalm 10 - Two times in Psalm 10, the psalmist uses the word "fatherless." In both instances, he speaks about the truth that God is a helper to the fatherless and that God brings justice to the fatherless.

Aren't you glad we have a God that is concerned with those who need Him most? I'm blessed to still have my father with me. He is the man in this world that I admire the most. So many of my friends who have lost their Dads talk about the intense emotional loss that comes with that. My Christian friends have also talked about after the loss of their Dad, God has become even closer. Maybe it is because they are drawing nearer to God, maybe it's because God is drawing nearer to them, or maybe it is a combination of the two. Either way, I'm glad we have a God that has compassion for those who need Him most.

Genesis 11 - Two monumental events in the history of the world take place in Genesis 11. The first is the incident at the Tower of Babel where God confuses the language of the people. They go from speaking one common language, and living in close proximity to one another to speaking many languages and being dispersed throughout the entire earth.

The second great event is the birth of Abraham, called Abram, in this chapter. Abraham would become the father of a great nation. Things don't look promising for that happening in this chapter as it is announced that Sarai (Sarah), Abraham's wife is barren.

It's tragic that so many "Christians" are now saying that Genesis 1-11 never happened. There is a Christian college in my area that has a teacher in the Bible department that says that Genesis 1-11 are allegory. What a tragedy! The power of the Bible is diminished when we sacrifice the truth of Scripture for convenient conjecture.

1 Chronicles 11 - What an interesting chapter! I don't recall reading the account of how David took the city of Jerusalem. This is why it is called the City of David. It is clear from 1 Chronicles 11 that David's victories were not the sole result of his brilliant military mind, but because the hand of the Lord was on him (see verse 9).

How awesome and encouraged the young king must have been to have 30 mighty men who were faithful to him and stood alongside of him. The description of the bravery and loyalty of these men in this chapter are awesome. It's sad, knowing David's future history, that Uriah the Hittite, Bathsheba's husband is mentioned here. He would have done anything for David, but in the end, David has him killed because of his affair.

Luke 7:1-35 - John the Baptist sat in a prison cell. He was there because he had spoken against King Herod's sin. He had seen much in his life. God had allowed him to grow up in a godly home. His parents always doted on him. They called him their "miracle child." And, to be fair, he was! Everything about John's life spelled miracle. His birth was announced by an angel. He was born to a couple well past childbearing years. He was filled by the Holy Spirit from the womb. And, despite his strange diet and appearance, and his less than ideal ministry setting, God used him to impact hundreds, perhaps thousands of people.

Crowds used to come to see John in droves. Now all that saw him were a few prison guards, some disciples who occasionally visited him, and his fellow prisoners. Jail gave him lots of time to think. Was Jesus really who John thought that He was? It had been so clear. At the baptism of Jesus, God the Father and God the Holy Spirit were present. Jesus had been so tender and yet powerful with his words. But that didn't change John's location. "Why?" John must have thought. "Why has God put me here?"

Even spiritual giants can have doubts from time to time. John the Baptist was no exception. In Luke 7:20, two of John's disciples are sent to ask Jesus if He really is the one who is to come (the Messiah). Why did John ask this? Because he needed reassurance.

Jesus gave John reassurance. Just before the disciples of John found Jesus, he had done something spectacular. He had healed a centurion's servant and raised a widow's son from the dead.

Jesus knew John would have doubts. He knew John's friends would come to find Him in that town. And, He healed and raised the dead not just as a blessing to those families impacted by the healing and resurrection, but as a blessing to John as he sat in that prison cell.

Sometimes God encourages us by allowing us to see what He is doing in the lives of others. Has he done that for you? If so, thank Him for it, and rejoice while others rejoice.