Introduction The title to today's psalm refers to that time in David's life when he had to flee for his life because Saul wanted to kill him. And we read in 1 Samuel 21 that Samuel went to a place called Nob, where he asked the priest for food. The priest replied that the only … Continue reading Psalm 052
Tag: Old Testament
Job 02(11)–03(26)
Introduction We began to study the book of Job together two Sundays ago when I made the obvious point that the book of Job is a book about suffering. The opening two chapters tell us about how Job suffered. On one extra-ordinary day, he lost his possessions and his family when one servant after another … Continue reading Job 02(11)–03(26)
Job 04–07
Introduction Today we come to the first speech of Eliphaz, who was one of Job's three friends who came to comfort him after he lost his possessions and after he lost his children and after he lost his health. When they heard what had happened to him, the three friends arranged to go and see … Continue reading Job 04–07
Job 01(01)–02(10)
Introduction We're beginning a new series of sermons today on the book of Job. The book of Job is, as most people know, a book about suffering. In the two opening chapters Job goes from being a man who had everything to becoming a man who had nothing. He loses all his possessions; he loses … Continue reading Job 01(01)–02(10)
Esther 09+10
Summary Haman convinced the king of Persia to issue an decree to destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews in the empire. Mordecai convinced Queen Esther to go to the king to beg for mercy and to plead with him for her people. At first she hesitated, because to go before the king uninvited was … Continue reading Esther 09+10
Esther 07+08
Introduction Haman persuaded the king to issue a decree to destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews in the Persian Empire. Mordecai persuaded Esther to go to the king and to beg for mercy and to plead with him for her people. And so, Esther took her life in her hand -- because normally the … Continue reading Esther 07+08
Esther 05+06
Introduction The very existence of God's people is in danger because Haman persuaded King Xerxes to issue an order to destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews throughout the empire, an empire that stretched from India to Ethiopia. When the Jews, including Mordecai, heard the news, they fasted, wept and wailed. Mordecai then sent word … Continue reading Esther 05+06
Psalm 051
Introduction Psalm 51 is a penitential psalm in which the psalmist confesses his sin to the Lord and seeks God's mercy and forgiveness. You'll see from the title that the background to the psalm is the time when Nathan the prophet confronted David about his sin with Bathsheba. David had committed adultery with Bathsheba; and … Continue reading Psalm 051
Psalm 050
Introduction Worship can be a contentious issue in the church; and from time to time people talk about the worship wars. And we have worship wars because people have strong views on worship and on the kind of thing we should sing in church. And we learn from this psalm that the Lord himself takes … Continue reading Psalm 050
Psalm 049
Introduction The message of this wisdom psalm is very simple and straightforward: everyone will die. Everyone will die. And the richest people in the world cannot buy their way out of death and the grave. In this life, the rich may live in splendour and luxury in princely mansions; and they can do whatever they … Continue reading Psalm 049
