Latest Thoughts of the Day

2 King 1:15

12/25/2025

The angel of the Lord said to Elijah, "God down with him; do not be afraid of him" so Elijah got up and went down with him to the king.

Elijah has already called down fire on two companies of fifty soldiers, as he refused to respond to the King’s command to come. The captain of the third fifty fell down before Elijah and begged for mercy. God is pleased to show mercy in response to this captain’s plea. Obviously this captain had enough faith to believe that Elijah was God’s prophet and had enough boldness in his faith to ask for mercy. The sparing of this company comes across as incidental. God’s exalts Elijah and deals with the king who sent to Baal to learn the future. God is still in control in Israel, even though His focus will be on Judah, looking ahead to Jesus.

I Kings 1:15

12/24/2025

So Bathsheba went to see the aged king in his room where Abishag the Shunamite was attending him.

King David is on Hospice, and Abishag is in place of an electric blanket. Perhaps the exaggerated formality of the interchange between Bathsheba and David is because of the handmaiden’s presence. A plot is unfolding to wrest the throne from David just before his death, and David is near enough to the instability of dementia that a particular kind of caution must be exercised. Nathan the prophet and Bathsheba must work together to move the situation to the place God wants it to be. God had all power to put Solomon on throne no matter what sinful men plotted, but it was His good pleasure to use the manipulation of Nathan and Bathsheba. Solomon will be king. Through him, the line will continue for a thousand years to Jesus.

2 Samuel 1:15

12/23/2025

Then David called one of his men and said, "Strike him down!" So he struck him down and he died.

There was no human or political reason why David should not be glad for his enemy, Saul, to be killed. The young man who had finished him off had carefully brought to David the crown and special armband that King Saul had been wearing. Probably he expected to be rewarded. Many of us are surprised at David’s response and amazed that the man who had done this service should be killed on the spot. It seems that we do not fully appreciate David’s view of regal authority and the depth at which David took God seriously. We are watching as God brings about the political situation which will place David securely on the throne of David. And we think of the Son of David, Jesus.

I Samuel 1:15

12/22/2025

'"Not so, my lord," Hannah replied. I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer. I was pouring out my soul to the Lord."

Deep spirituality is something Eli himself knows nothing about, so he terribly misjudges Hannah. Her lips moved as she called out to God, and he had thought she was drunk. If it is true that we tend to suspect others of doing what we ourselves are tempted to do, Eli’s accusation says more about him than it does about her. But Eli still carried the authority of his office, so he becomes a channel of blessing from God to Hannah. God’s hearing of Hannah’s prayer moves forward the whole story of the Bible. Her baby will grow up to be the most important man in Israel. David will be anointed, and history will move toward Jesus.

Ruth 1:15

12/21/2025

"look," said naomi, "your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her."

If she can go, she should go. Unless God is more important than everything else, stick with the world and do your best. Naomi was forcing Ruth to count the cost. We need to count the cost. Could we be sufficiently happy in a world without God at the center? Then live and die sufficiently happy and spend eternity in torment. That is the very best one can do without Christ. But we are of Ruth’s opinion. Naomi’s people are our people and her God our God. Not that we are Jewish. But our hearts are with the people of God, and we choose them along with the God we both worship. God has made us all citizens of heaven through our Savior. We are one in Christ Jesus.

Judges 1:`15

12/20/2025

She replied, "Do me a special favor. Since yo have given me land in the Negev, give me also springs of water. Then Caleb gave her the upper and lower springs.

.We have a tiny glimpse of a relationship between an important man in Israel and his daughter. Obviously, she is a favorite of his. Obviously she is comfortable with her father. Obviously she is a shrewd young lady who is seeking the best for the husband to whom she has been given. Hints of a good family relationship make us remember that mankind has not change in the three thousand years that have transpired between this event and ourselves. We are happy to see signs of a healthy family in this ancient record. Lord, help us to live in joy and helpfulness to brothers and sisters in Christ. Bless us now with Your dear presence, Lord Jesus.

Joshua 1:15

12/19/2025

You are to help your brothers until the lord gives them rest, as he has done for you and until they too have taken possession of the land the Lord your od is giving them. After that you may go back and occupy your own land, which Moses the servant of God gave you east of the Jordajn toward the sunrise.

A deal is a deal. Those who already were in their allotted portion were required to help the rest of the tribes of Israel occupy what was given to them. Moses had allowed this, and Joshua is reminding them, lest they forget. Lord, give us hearts for Christians who have not yet obtained the peace you have granted to us. Paul yearned as in childbirth that Christ may be formed in us. Some of our brothers are struggling still. Help us help them draw near to Jesus.

Deuteronomy 1:18

12/18/2025

And at that time I told you everything you were to do.

Now, before the Israelites are to enter the promised land, Moses repeats the law that had been given them forty years ago at the beginning of their sojourn in the wilderness. The years of struggle and the gross disobedience of the people did not alter the law that God had given. For as many years as God would preserve His people and press on with the foreordained purposes, the Law would not change. In fact, Jesus would say, some fifteen hundred years hence, “Heaven and Earth will pass away, but My word will not pass away.” Paul tells us in I Timothy 3:16, “all Scripture is inspired by God and profitable”. God has told us what we are to do and what to do when we have failed. Or hope in all is focused on Jesus.