The temple in Jerusalem was a holy place. It was not meant for everyone to enter, especially to the most sacred places, because of its holiness; only righteous people could enter. Psalm 118 includes a demonstration of how people typically entered the temple. “Open to me the gates of righteousness,” the person outside the temple…

Psalm 118 starts out as an introduction to worship. The leader and the people are speaking to one another. The theme of the worship is clear from the first verse on: “His steadfast love endures forever!” As the worship continues, a speaker comes forward and gives his testimony. “Out of my distress I called on…

It is always hard when our loved ones pass away. We can comfort each other, knowing that they are with Jesus. This is wonderful! We could hope for nothing more. However, we often comfort each other with fallacies as well. For example, the idea that our loved ones are watching us from Heaven sounds wonderful,…

Psalm 119 is clear. “How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word” (verse 9). That’s the way to do it! By remembering to read Scripture and apply it to our everyday lives, we can defend against the evil one and avoid sin. That’s all there is to…

God has a plan – that much is certain. He has a very specific picture of what the world will look like once his plan is complete. “I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And…

The definition of “framework” is this: a basic structure underlying a system or concept. After much time spent in Jesus’s company, James and John thought they had that down pat. They understood what Jesus was up to – he was going to take over! He was going to overthrow the Romans and establish the nation…

In the Old Testament, the people of Israel had a high priest who would make sacrifices on their behalf. This was necessary in order for their sins to be forgiven, but there was a problem. The high priest was also sinful. “For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf…

What is needed to sustain life? That’s an easy question. The basics include food, water, and shelter. But beyond physical life, the question isn’t so easy. Our human condition is one of brokenness. We are helpless in so many ways. We are aimless, wavering in the wind. We are ignorant, not sure of what is…

Have you ever had a teacher who was convinced he or she knew everything? I know I have. I recall a professor who taught us out of a book and then proceeded to tell us that most of the book was wrong. She based this only on her own experience, not on research she had…