“Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and rely on horses, who trust in chariots because they are many and in horsemen because they are very strong, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel or consult the Lord!” (Isaiah 31:1 ESV). From Abraham’s time until that of Isaiah’s, the
“Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: ‘Whoever believes will not be in haste.’” (Isaiah 28:16 ESV). The Lord spoke through Isaiah of a “precious cornerstone” that He would lay in Zion (“Jerusalem”). This stone would have
“Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer; from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I” (Psalm 61:1-2 ESV). David wrote this psalm, crying out to God to lead him to a place that was safe and
“I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose” (Galatians 2:21 ESV). God’s grace is that which saves and sustains the one trusting in Christ’s finished work of salvation. Grace is about God’s mercy, while working to keep the law is about our
“I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress. O my Strength, I will sing praises to you, for you, O God, are my fortress, the God who shows me steadfast love” (Psalm 59:16 ESV). David
“I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel” (Galatians 1:6 ESV). The apostle Paul wrote to correct those in Galatia who had fallen prey to the false “gospel” of the Judaizers, who insisted that new believers had to
“Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you” (2 Corinthians 13:11 ESV). Paul’s final instructions in his second letter to the Corinthians sought to correct the disharmony he had heard about. They were not submissive to
“The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them” (Isaiah 11:6 ESV). The world will not stay as it is. A remaking is around the corner. Isaiah prophesied of
“I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. And I know that this man was caught up into paradise” (2 Corinthians 12:2-3 ESV). In the climax of Paul’s “boastings,” he spoke of
“O God, save me by your name, and vindicate me by your might” (Psalm 54:1 ESV). “What’s in a name?” So asked Shakespeare’s Juliet of Romeo, the implication being that his family name was a mere arbitrary label and didn’t matter to her. Yet, David appealed to God’s “name” as the source of his salvation.