At the beginning of the book of Job, a portfolio snapshot of Job’s wealth was given:Job 1:2-3 ESVThere were born to him seven sons and three daughters. He possessed 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 female donkeys, and very many servants, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the east.Some important things to mention:◦ The first thing listed in Job’s wealth port...  Read More

Most people equate wisdom with knowledge, but they are two entirely different things. Knowledge is facts and figures, but wisdom is knowing what those facts and figures mean. Knowledge is rules and procedures, but wisdom is knowing how to apply those rules and procedures. Knowledge is dates and details of historical events, but wisdom is avoid ing the repetition of history.Most people think we rec...  Read More

The OT is Required to Understand the NTToo many Christians neglect the reading of the Old Testament. The OT has a purpose just the same as the NT. In fact, Paul admonished us to read the OT by saying:Romans 15:4 KJVFor whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.I want to have hope, and I also want t...  Read More

After Job faces more tragedy than any of us can possibly fathom, his “friends” come along. At first, his friends do the right thing, they just sit with Job in his sorrow. Sometimes there is no right thing to say, but just the presence of a friend can make grief and suffering better.Sadly, Job’s “friends” don’t stay silent. First, Eliphaz starts in on Job. He accuses him of secret sin, which has br...  Read More

It is not ironic at all that we were in the midst of reading Esther when Hamas brutally attacked the citizenry of Israel. From Pharoah to Haman to Hitler to Hamas. There have always been people influenced by Satan to destroy the Jews.The book of Esther tells us about Haman’s plot to destroy the Jews. God knows the end from the beginning. He knew Mordecai would be faithful to Him. He knew Haman wou...  Read More

In the final chapter of Nehemiah, we see his account of salesmen coming to Jerusalem on the sabbath day. Jews were not supposed to be buying and selling on the sabbath, but I assume because the salesmen were there, many did.Nehemiah banishes the salesmen and orders the gates of the city closed during the sabbath. This stopgap measure protected the Israelites from themselves. If they could not with...  Read More

Nehemiah 2:4-5 KJVThen the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven. [5] And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers' sepulchres, that I may build it.The first thought I had when reading these scriptures was that of silent prayer. I ...  Read More

The Solid RockUpon returning to Jerusalem after the Babylonian captivity, the very first thing the remnant that returns to Israel does is set up the altar for the sacrifices:Ezra 3:3 KJVAnd they set the altar upon his bases; for fear was upon them because of the people of those countries: and they offered burnt offerings thereon unto the Lord, even burnt offerings morning and evening.Those sacrifi...  Read More

God wants you. He wants you to be in a right relationship with Him. He wants you to serve Him and only Him. Because of this great desire, He will use any means necessary to get your attention.Some people need to only hear the preaching of the Gospel a few times, and they will surrender their heart to their Lord. Others, it takes a traumatic experience to help them realize their need for God. And f...  Read More

Psalm 61:5 KJVFor thou, O God, hast heard my vows: thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name.The word fear in this verse denotes reverence - not being scared of something. David says he was given a heritage of people who fear the Lord. This means his parents and grandparents spent time speaking of their faith in the Lord and practicing it in front of David.The faith of those who ...  Read More

The books of Psalms and Proverbs are probably my favorite portion of the scripture. They are filled with wisdom, promises, and reminders of God’s faithfulness. One of the promises given in the Psalms is as follows:Psalm 55:22 KJVCast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.This verse tells us that God will take our burdens and carry us t...  Read More

1 Chronicles 22:14-16 KJVNow, behold, in my trouble I have prepared for the house of the Lord an hundred thousand talents of gold, and a thousand thousand talents of silver; and of brass and iron without weight; for it is in abundance: timber also and stone have I prepared; and thou mayest add thereto. [15] Moreover there are workmen with thee in abundance, hewers and workers of stone and timber, ...  Read More