Forgiveness
How Can a Man Be Righteous Before God?
Job had made a powerful case, demonstrating that suffering comes upon all people regardless of the righteousness of their behavior. However, Bildad the Shuhite refused to acknowledge—at least directly—the strength of Job’s case. Instead, he turned his attention to the distance that lies between God and all men, emphasizing the exalted nature of God compared…
Read MoreOh, For a Mediator Between Us!
Anyone who has had to go through mediation in some legal sense knows that it is not necessarily a pleasant experience. In fact, going to mediation means that unresolved tension dominates the proceedings—at least for one party, if not both. Mediation is thus the means of bringing these two parties together to bridge the gap…
Read MoreFull Atonement–Can It Be?
The Jews journeyed to Jerusalem for several feasts every year—each having a special significance. As they traveled and approached the city and especially the temple, their purpose in drawing near grew clearer and clearer. This developed not only from their proximity to their ancient capital but also due to their practice of singing psalms as…
Read MoreThe Beauty of Hindsight
From the moment Moses’ original appearance before Pharaoh led to that ruler’s hard hearted crackdown on the family of Jacob, the children of Israel established their spiritual credentials as unappreciative complainers in response to the goodness of the LORD. Even as they came to recognize His power through the ten plagues, their instincts focused on […]
Read MoreThe Origin of Thankfulness
Few traits demonstrate a combination of humility and joy better than thankfulness. Its very nature depends on recognizing others’ contributions to our well-being and happiness. Because of this, from a young age, most parents teach their children the importance of saying, “Thank you.” And yet, as we grow older, and perhaps because we lack the […]
Read MoreGod Who Forgives
The LORD’s reign dominates the landscape of the brief section of psalms of which Psalm 99 is a part, and its offering includes just as much depth, opening once more with the powerful but elegant declaration, “The LORD reigns.” Building upon the previous psalms’ promise and Messianic hope, this song presents the exalted character of […]
Read MoreBut We Asked Nicely!
The northern tribes of Israel had set themselves in rebellion against God from the days of Jeroboam. The introduction of the golden calves in Dan and Bethel had paved the way for full-fledged idolatry. Thus, the introduction of Baal to Israel by Ahab, and ultimately participation in the rituals of Molech, doomed the northern kingdom […]
Read MoreBroken
At various times when different athletes have ended up in trouble and the question arises about whether their careers can recover from the incident—almost regardless of the offense—sports journalists emphasize: Americans are a forgiving people. Considering the level of immorality associated with the world of sports and the declining interest in Christianity in society, this […]
Read MoreFeeling Forgiven
David truly was a man after God’s own heart. This distinction he received—not because of his perfect life but because of his willingness to correct his imperfections and seek forgiveness. We see this on three different major occasions in David’s life: when he brought the ark up to Jerusalem on a cart (2 Sam. 6:1-11;…
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