Gems from the Old Testament - Lutheran Spokesman: Recent Episodes
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The MC (Master of Ceremonies) is introducing the guest of honor. He tells of his background, relating also his achievements and reputation. Obviously, he expects the crowd to be informed about and appreciative of such a storied speaker. Finally, the MC brings his introduction to a climax by inviting applause and a warm welcome: “Please,… Read More »GIVING IT UP. . .
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The world that God created was very good! No flaws. No strife. No disappointments. No death. Adam was given the intellect to name every animal and bird God brought before him. That suggests Adam understood their nature and was able to put into words their distinctive characteristics. He witnessed nature functioning in perfect harmony. None… Read More »“HE HAS MADE EVERYTHING BEAUTIFUL IN ITS TIME.”
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“For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.” (Proverbs 2:6) Martin Luther wrote, “I am much afraid that the schools will prove the very gates of hell, unless they diligently labor in explaining the Holy Scriptures and engrave them in the hearts of youth. I advise no one to place his… Read More »HIGHER EDUCATION
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Saint Paul, Alexander the Great, Vince Lombardi, Ernest Shackleton. What did these men have in common? Was it not the focus, the whole-hearted effort they exercised to achieve their goals? While Saint Paul’s call to preach the Gospel was directly from the Lord, the others seemingly followed unabated and with passion their own agenda. Caleb,… Read More »FOLLOWING THE LORD—WHOLLY!
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“Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good.” (Genesis 1:31) Imagine yourself hiking in the Rocky Mountains under a sky astonishingly blue—the temperature is ideal as the breeze flutters aspen leaves that have begun to turn bright yellow, or on the deck sipping from a hot cup of coffee as… Read More »ANOTHER PERFECT DAY
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Read Psalm 139 How involved is God in our lives? According to Psalm 139, God knows us completely, is always with us, constantly exercises His power in our lives, and loves us eternally. So how involved is that ? God knows us completely God knows everything about us. And His knowledge encompasses every detail of… Read More »FOR A LIFETIME
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It is an elemental fact that the basic needs for physical life are water, food, and shelter. The various survival programs on TV clearly bear this out. David once found himself in a survival dilemma. After serving King Saul faithfully, he was hunted by his jealous king. At one point David took refuge in the… Read More »BOTH STRONGHOLD AND GARDEN
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“Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah . . . saying, ‘Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city.'” (Jonah 1:1-2) Jesus calls all who follow Him to do this. Every believer is to share the Gospel of Christ as opportunities present themselves, and to live his life as a witness unto the Lord. Communities of Christians have… Read More »THE LORD IS A SENDING GOD
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“But the righteous will live by his faith.” (Habakkuk 2:4 NASB) Amid the turmoil and complexities of his world, nation, life, and calling, Habakkuk brought his questions to God. God answered them, and God’s answer was “by faith.” God says the same to us today. “Trust Me. Have faith in Me. You know Who I… Read More »“By Faith”
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“To Prepare: To make ready beforehand for some purpose, use or activity; to plan in advance, to implement a strategy.” (Merriam-Webster) We might think of an attorney who prepares a will or legal document, a chef who prepares a gourmet meal, or even a general who prepares for battle. All of us have prepared something… Read More »The Great Preparer
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“Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.” (Ecclesiastes 1:2) In the first two chapters of Ecclesiastes, Solomon relates how he examined the best that life had to offer, especially if one has unlimited resources. His conclusion? Nothing “under the sun” brings lasting contentment and a meaningful life. Worldly accomplishments, wealth, fame, and pleasures leave everyone empty… Read More »Everlasting Meaning Is Found Only in Jesus
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“Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day.” (Genesis 32:24) Late that night, Jacob stood alone by the Jabbok River; troubled, frightened, sleepless. Somewhere in the darkness Esau approached with four hundred armed men. Esau from whom Jacob had stolen the birthright. Esau who had sworn to… Read More »Wrestling with God
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“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1) These majestic words set the stage for the most-read, most-printed, and most-translated book in history—the Holy Bible. Compare that statement to how Carl Sagan opened the 1980 television series Cosmos: A Personal Voyage: “The cosmos is all there is, or was, or ever… Read More »In Him All Things Consist
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“Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. Behold, all those who were incensed against you Shall be ashamed and disgraced; They shall be as nothing, And those who strive… Read More »Do Not Fear
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Every Bible student has heard of the Tower of Babel. Tourists are fascinated with the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Historians know of the Lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the wonders of the ancient world. As for twin towers, the Petronas Towers of Kuala Lumpur were initially the tallest towers in the world, and are the… Read More »The Twin Towers-Still Standing!
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“Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia.” (Ezra 1:1 NASB) Seventy years had passed, and the time had come for the Jews taken into exile in Babylon to begin their return… Read More »A Prayer for Difficult Times
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“But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men and despised by the people.” (Psalm 22:6) Psalm 22 is a messianic psalm, that is, a psalm which speaks prophetically of the Messiah. Written nearly a thousand years before the birth of Christ, this psalm vividly describes His death on the cross: the… Read More »The Crimson Worm
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I’ve got a secret. Can you guess my secret? Can you keep a secret? So it’s often said. I even heard of a kids’ club, entry into which required the telling of a secret. The entire world seems to highly value its secrets, whether it be business, government, or personal secrets. It might be a… Read More »Do You Have a Secret?
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Several Old Testament prophecies declare that the Messiah would be a preacher. Jesus verified that, saying, “I must preach the kingdom of God . . . because for this purpose I have been sent!” (Luke 4:43) Jesus spoke those words after entering the synagogue in Nazareth and preaching from Isaiah 61, which we quote here:… Read More »The Lord Has Anointed Me to Preach
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Out of the Depths (Read Psalm 130) The writer of Psalm 130 was “in the depths.” Not simply a mild depression or temporary problem, but deep trouble, deep pain, deep heartache. In fact, the Hebrew word for depths in Psalm 130 is used in Isaiah 51 to describe the depths of the ocean. At times,… Read More »Give Your Burdens to the Lord
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[‘Going south’ is an idiom that generally alludes to directional maps, on which south is down. Thus, south means lower in value, or going into a bad or worsened situation.] I is not surprising that the great heroes of faith are also portrayed as great sinners. Such heroes were but sinner-saints with great weaknesses and… Read More »When Things Go South
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GEMS FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT “Remember the whole journey on which the Lord your God led you these forty years in the wilderness, in order to humble you and to test you, in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commandments. So he humbled you and allowed you to be… Read More »Our Journey through the Wilderness
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GEMS FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT Exodus 20:14 The Definition Our English word adultery is from the Latin word adulterare, meaning to corrupt. The Hebrew word used in the Sixth Commandment has a similar meaning; literally, to stain with a dye, and by extension, to defile. So adultery is a staining or defiling of God’s institution… Read More »“You shall not commit adultery.”
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GEMS FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT 1967 saw the release of the WWII movie The Dirty Dozen. A rather recalcitrant U.S. army major (Lee Marvin) was given the task of recruiting, training, and leading twelve men on a suicide mission behind enemy lines. The dirty dozen were all convicted felons, slated for execution. But if the… Read More »The Dirty Dozens
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GEMS FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT It is likely that every person reading this article has studied the Ten Commandments in Luther’s Small Catechism. These Ten speak to us of divine requirements for daily living. The Hebrew word for commandment is mitzvah. This word is derived from a word meaning “to set up” or “set forth.”… Read More »“Commandment”
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GEMS FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT 2 Kings chapter 25 tells of how Nebuchadnezzar and his army laid siege to Jerusalem. The situation became so desperate that King Zedekiah fled from the city. “But the army of the Chaldeans pursued the king, and they overtook him in the plains of Jericho. All his army was scattered from… Read More »Your Word Has Given Me Life
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GEMS FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT (Read Psalm 27) Change is a part of life. In a real sense, change defines life. Every living thing is a changing thing. But as Christians, we never face change alone. The first six verses of Psalm 27 are brimming with confidence. “The Lord is my light and my salvation;… Read More »In the Midst of Change, a God Who Doesn’t
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GEMS FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT “What is truth?” So spoke Pontius Pilate. He was responding to Jesus’ declaration: “For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” (John 18:37) On the […]
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