This famous psalm has been referenced in more teachings than I could count, and more times than I care to think about. It’s popularity is up there with Psalm 23, making it one of the best-known psalms. “O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I…
Month: November 2019
Numbers 24
After blessing Israel a third time, Balaam is sent away by an utterly frustrated Balak. Before leaving, Balaam prophesies the defeat of Moab: ” ‘…a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel; it shall crush the forehead[c] of Moab and break down all the sons of Sheth. Edom…
Psalm 138
“I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing your praise; I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word. On the day I called, you…
Numbers 23
Balak takes Balaam to multiple places overlooking Israel’s camp, hoping that Balaam would curse Israel. Each time Balaam waits for a word from God, and shares it with Balak. “And Balaam took up his discourse and said, ‘Rise, Balak, and hear; give ear to me, O son of Zippor: God is not man, that he…
Psalm 137
This psalm was likely written during or shortly after Israel’s exile into Babylonian captivity. “By the waters of Babylon, there we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion. On the willows there we hung up our lyres. For there our captors required of us songs, and our tormentors, mirth, saying, ‘Sing us one of…
Numbers 22
This fascinating chapter is the first of three containing the account of Balaam, a servant of God. Balaam is hired by Balak, the king of Moab, to curse Israel, so Moab could hopefully overcome them in battle (for Israel was greater than Moab). There are so many aspects to this account we can’t discuss them…
Psalm 136
This psalm is entitled “His Steadfast Love Endures Forever”, which is pretty fitting (and obvious) because that line is in every one of the 26 verses. “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. to him who alone does great wonders, for his steadfast love endures forever; to…
Numbers 21
This odd chapter contains three accounts of Israel conquering land from different kings who opposed them, as well as a song about a well (don’t ask me, I have no idea why this is in here…). There’s also this important section which is full of foreshadowing: “From Mount Hor they set out… And the people…
Psalm 135
“Praise the Lord! Praise the name of the Lord, give praise, O servants of the Lord, who stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God! For I know that the Lord is great, and that our Lord is above all gods. The idols of the nations are…
Numbers 20
There is so much happening in this chapter, we can’t cover it all. Minor events include the death of Miriam and denial of passage through the land of Edom (that one has interesting back story). There are also two major intertwined events I’ll try to cover. “Now there was no water for the congregation. And…