Acts 04(01–31)

Introduction We left Peter and John in the temple in Jerusalem, where they'd just healed a lame man in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. And afterwards, when a crowd had gathered, Peter explained that they, the Jews, had handed the Lord Jesus over to Pilate to be killed, but God raised him from … Continue reading Acts 04(01–31)

Psalms 125+126

Introduction I'm once again going to take two short psalms together. Both are songs of ascents. In Psalm 125 the psalmist expresses his confidence in the Lord who protect his people who trust in him. And while Psalm 126 refers to laughter and joy, it's nevertheless a kind of lament, because the psalmist prays for … Continue reading Psalms 125+126

Ezekiel 08+09

Introduction Once again we're going to take two chapters together, because these two chapters belong together. In the first one, Ezekiel is taken on a kind of magical mystery tour of the temple in Jerusalem where the Lord shows him the idolatry of his people. And he therefore makes clear to Ezekiel and to us … Continue reading Ezekiel 08+09

Ezekiel 06+07

Introduction Last week we saw how Ezekiel began his prophetic ministry when the Lord commanded him to perform three mimes or three sign-acts to signify the suffering of God's people when the city of Jerusalem is destroyed. In the first mime, he was to make a model of Jerusalem and place model siege-works around it … Continue reading Ezekiel 06+07

Psalms 123+124

Introduction I'm going to take these two psalms together, because they're both short. And, of course, they are both songs of ascents. So, they were perhaps written for the returning exiles who were making their way back from Babylon to Jerusalem. Or perhaps more likely they were written for God's people who were making their … Continue reading Psalms 123+124

Acts 03

Introduction Last week we were studying the little summary which Luke gives us at the end of chapter 2 of what the early church was like. He gave us a kind of snapshot of what they did and how they treated one another in those early days of the church. Those, of course, were special … Continue reading Acts 03

Ezekiel 04+05

Introduction The Lord has called Ezekiel to be his prophet; and he has sent him to the people of Israel, who were living in exile in Babylon to declare to them the word of the Lord. You might recall from your Old Testament history that in the reign of Jehoiachin, the Babylonian army laid siege … Continue reading Ezekiel 04+05