The Lampstand Magazine: Recent Episodes
The Lampstand Magazine
A podcast of articles published in the Lampstand Magazine, a Christadelphian publication containing news, expositions, practical advice and exhortations particularly relevant to the brethren and sisters in Australian ecclesias.
A violin cannot play a sweet note unless the strings are under pressure, but if you put too much pressure on the strings, they snap. So do you. When the violin is NOT being used, you must release the tension on the strings (Tanya Wheway).We hear a lot today about the evils of pressure. Pressure...
Romans 2v1-2. But what of the Jew, who stands in judgment as he looks on the rest of the world? One who thinks he is, by race, above the Gentiles, whose attitude may be expressed thus: “Yes, this is true of the Gentile world, but I am thankful that I am not like other men”. He has forgotten...
Five women are mentioned in the royal genealogy of the Lord Jesus in Matthew 1. Four of these women are specifically named, three are Gentiles (Tamar, Rahab, and Ruth), two likely were alive at the same time (Rahab and Ruth), and one has an Old Testament book bearing her name.Ruth’s mention i...
Our introductory article explained the purpose of the book of Chronicles. This is identified by the Septuagint title for the book, “the acts left out”, alerting us to the fact that it is a selective history. By the omission of some details and the insertion of others not found in the book of Ki...
The account of Christ walking on the water has been known to us for as long as we can remember, from growing up in Sunday school or learning about this for the first time as a new Bible student. It remains a standout story of the biblical record, one of those stories that excites the mind in it...
The shortest psalm in the Bible is Psalm 117, which consists of two verses:“O praise Yahweh, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people.For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of Yahweh endureth for ever. Praise ye Yahweh.”It predicts a time when all the wor...
An armoured terrorist lurks in the city. Suddenly, thousands of pieces of sticky rope fly at him from all directions. They bind together, immobilising him in a net. The net dissolves the intruder’s armour, and simultaneously signals for miniature robotic snipers to land on the net and use it ...
This series is an abridged version of the notes for the Australasian Youth Conference to be held in April 2025, God willing. May we all encourage our young people and each other concerning the topic of 1 Timothy.SummaryThe third chapter of 1 Timothy outlines the practical ways Timothy was t...
The Holy Spirit working in usSo how does the Holy Spirit work in our lives today? The Holy Spirit works in us, not as a physical power, but as a moral force within the believer’s mind. This moral power results in a changed way of thinking that comes through the power of God’s Word and not a...
Ezekiel 38:5 identifies Persia, Ethiopia and Libya as considerably important nations contributing to the Russian confederacy at the time of the end. Daniel 11:43 speaks of the Libyans and Ethiopians following “at his steps”, that is, marching in step with him as allies. Persia refers to modern-...
Israeli researchers have used a precise method to establish a detailed chronology of the First Temple period (1200BC to the Babylonian destruction in 586BC). Working with archaeological evidence at the City of David National Park in Jerusalem, the team reconstructed an accurate history of the city ...
There is a story about a schoolteacher addressing her class which was studying statistics. She informed them that somewhere in the world there is a woman having a baby every 12 seconds. Her question to the class was, “What do you think of that?” One bright eyed student spoke up excitedly saying...
At first glance, the books of Chronicles appear to be merely a long series of unpronounceable names with no purpose or design. As we arrive at these books annually in our readings we may struggle to find the reason for their inclusion in Holy Writ. We might feel tempted to disregard this portio...
Romans 1v1. Paul, a bondslave of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle…that I may be a manifestation of Christ to demonstrate the good news that God has entered into the affairs of humankind. He promised to do this out of necessity because man could not extricate himself from the sin in which...
It is possible to read over the verses of the Passover institution and miss some of the important details that have been left on record. For example, we read in Luke’s account that the Lord said, “With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer” (Luke 22:15). The ...
The importance of doing the Daily Readings cannot be overstated. This is emphasised in an exhortation given by Brother Robert Roberts published in an article in Seasons of Comfort Volumes 1&2, pp 83–88. Although we have not reproduced all of the exhortation due to its length, the main poi...
When Paul was writing to the Corinthians, he found it needful to rebuke them for their strife and divisiveness. This dissension was exacerbated by a party spirit fostering support for strong personalities within the ecclesia. Some followed Paul and championed his work, others exalted Apollos to the...
An adult fruit fly emerges from the egg and pupa in about two weeks. As the eyes are developing in a fruit fly embryo, an amazing process unfolds. A wave of signals sweeps across stem cells, switching on certain progenitor cells to stop proliferating and signalling other cells to undergo programmed cell death (apoptosis). The result is an amazing organ—the compound eye—and it comes in matching left and right sides, like a pair of rubies.
In the ESV we read these words concerning Ezekiel’s temple: “He measured the east side with the measuring reed, 500 cubits by the measuring reed all around. He measured the north side, 500 cubits by the measuring reed all around. He measured the south side, 500 cubits by the measuring reed” (Ezek 42:16-18). If we compare this with the AV, we read 500 reeds instead of 500 cubits. Why is there a significant difference between the two translations and how did the change come about?
The importance of Bible prophecyIsrael is central to the purpose of God, which is to fill the earth with God’s glory. Israel is central to the Kingdom of God on earth, with the law going forth from Zion and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem (Isa 2:2-4). This is why we love Bible p...
The conclusion of the whole matterOver the course of this series, we have endeavoured to lay out the principles God recorded in His Word in connection with our daily struggle to earn our crust of bread. Many of these are revolutionary concepts to creatures of dust. They seem impractical in dail...
The Apostle Paul tells us, “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith” (Gal 6:10). The virtue of doing good to others is a divine principle that is recognised worldwide, even by those who may not understand other biblical truths. For example, the Dalai Lama said, “Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can’t help them, at least don’t hurt them”. Mahatma Gandhi taught, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others”. Many Christians and non-Christians would agree with Martin Luther King Jr’s conclusion, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’”
Have there ever been times in your life when nothing seems to go right? Work is scarce, money doesn’t seem to go around, and bills keep mounting up!I guess we can all answer, “sure that happens to all of us at times”. Perhaps it is for a reason.There was a time in Israel’s history when this was the case and yes, there was a reason for it. It was the time of Haggai.
In the first four chapters of Acts we have the Spirit’s account of the dramatic growth of the early ecclesia in the face of constant opposition from the religious rulers of the time. The narrative concerning Ananias and Sapphira is set between two incidents: the generosity of the ecclesia in...
Many flowering plant species rely on wind or water pollination, but most species must have the help of animals, especially insects, to carry pollen from one flower to another.Yucca species send out an exclusive night-time chemical invitation to Yucca moths, using their special but limited n...
Israel – God's enduring witnessOn several occasions God has declared that the nation of Israel is His witness in the earth, “Ye are my witnesses, saith Yahweh” (Isa 43:10,12; 44:8). As a nation, Israel is the greatest sign to the final generation and is central to God’s purpose (Zech 2:...
Be content with your wagesIn an age where everyone around us is constantly seeking more, it is difficult to follow the advice of John the Baptist and be content with our wages.John’s advice to the soldiers is universal in its application. Being “content”: the word carries the idea of ...
“I know you believe you understand what you think I said, but I am not sure you realise that what you heard is not what I meant”. This double talk saying is seen in many offices and usually produces a smile since it is true that what we think we said and what people think about what we said are...
Brother Thomas wrote, “God manifestation not human salvation was the great purpose of the Eternal Spirit”. Unfortunately, today the subject is not discussed to the degree that it was one 100 years ago; and yet, it is the cornerstone of our understanding of the Deity. In this article we hope...
There are many scriptural examples illustrating the positive and negative aspects of words and the effect they can have on others. Genesis 1 is a classic example. Through the Word that God spoke, the world was built up from the lifeless chaos it was and a world full of life, order and meaning was c...
In John 17:4 our Lord included this statement in his prayer to his Father: “I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.” Part of this work in glorifying the Father was to evince from those he healed a recognition that God was behind the healing. Anot...
Every day of our lives we assess complexity and the need for the appropriate time and resources to complete some tasks. When you get out of bed you have already considered most of the expected tasks for that day.
Another man worth considering in this regard is Daniel. He and his friends began life as part of the royal family of Judah (Dan 1:3-4).
There is a story about a small-town business owner whose clothing store was threatened with extinction. A national chain store had acquired all the properties on his block and had told him, “We’ll build all around you and put you out of business”.
How those words must have echoed around the court of Pharaoh and in the minds of his listeners. We see a proud monarch, clinging tenaciously to his own beliefs, having enslaved God’s people, yet determined to resist His Hand. The time had come for Israel’s deliverance, and such was the scene from which God would extract a people called after His Name.
Have you ever considered the power a word uttered can have on others? What effect the words we write by way of texts and emails can have on others?
Throughout the four gospels we frequently read of people following our Lord. Many followed out of a desperate need to be cured (Matt 4:24). Others followed him out of curiosity, purely to see miracles performed (John 6:2). Some sought him out for personal gain (John 6:26) and others sought to destroy him (John 5:16).
The relatively recent discovery of ocean currents is attributed to Matthew Maury (1806-1873) who was an American naval officer and oceanographer.
Who do you think you are? It sounds simple, but it's a question that you might not have carefully considered before. How do you define yourself? Who do you identify as? What do you say when someone asks you, “Tell me a bit about yourself?”
When you scour the Bible to examine the lives of men who ‘made it’ in terms of this life, what you find is that those who did, never intended to. Take, for example, the young man Joseph, who shot up to the heights of the Egyptian society (Gen 41:40-45).
Leviticus 23 outlines the various feasts celebrated under the law, as well as events observed during that period. Each of the events point forward to prophetic events, which either have happened, or are about to happen. These events are, in fact, a prophetic timeline of the overall sequence of events, culminating in the kingdom of God.
It was around AD90 when the Apostle John sent a letter (which we know as the third epistle of John) to Gaius. The ageing apostle opens his letter fondly, describing Gaius as well beloved and someone whom he truly loves.
One of David’s final battles with the uncircumcised Philistines is described in 2 Samuel 5. He had just been anointed king at Hebron and the enemy seized that opportunity to strike quickly and remove him from his newly acquired throne: “When the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines came up to seek David; and David heard of it, and went down to the hold. The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim” (5:17-18). Note that “all” the Philistines came. David had been their arch-enemy for years and now they sought to hunt him out and destroy him before he could consolidate his power and threaten them further.
This year’s Youth Aliyah Evening was held at the Heritage College Gym. A large audience of about 300 brothers and sisters and their families turned up to hear the speaker, Mr Daniel Tuskar from Keren Hayesod – United Israel Appeal, to speak on the subject: “The Absorption into Israeli Society...
In 2 Corinthians 11:21-33 the Apostle Paul enumerates his many trials and afflictions which he had suffered in his service of the Truth. He recalls the humiliating circumstances surrounding his escape from Damascus when he was let through a window and lowered down the wall in a basket. The occasion was the time shortly after his conversion (cp Acts 9:25), and Paul tells us incidentally that at that time there was a governor in Damascus who was subject to Aretas the king.
It is difficult to imagine a more profound testimony to design than the delivery of a fully developed baby that, only nine months ago, was a single cell. The degree of regulatory control and informational complexity of the process that drives embryonic development is far beyond human comprehension. Few biological phenomena are as gripping and awe-inspiring as the process of reproduction and the development of a baby in utero. The signature of design here is unmistakable, for so much of the process—from conception to delivery—depends on foresight and planning.
The Washington Institute for Near East Policy released an analysis paper on 17 July 2023 entitled: “How Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine Is Reshaping the Global Arms Market: Implications for the Middle East and Beyond” by Grant Rumley and Louis Dugit-Gros.This analysis confirms the ...
We are called to much higher things than the ambitions of this world. The life of the Truth comes at a cost. We must weigh the value of what we are being asked to give up against what we are going to gain. If all we do is think about the present life, our pilgrimage might be over in short order, as we head back to the world:
There is never a traffic jam on the extra mile. Jesus plainly told us that whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
Both Elijah and Elisha were called “the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof” (2 Kings 2:12; 13:14) because it was known and understood that Yahweh was working through his prophets. The foundation for this expression is laid by David when he is instructing Solomon about building the temple. In 1 Chronicles 28:18 David calls the cherubim “the chariot of the cherubim”.
In Luke 7:36-50, we read of “a woman of the city, which was a sinner” anointing our Lord’s feet with her tears. By this action, she joins a unique list of those who are expressly associated in some way with the feet of Jesus.
Homology refers to similarities of body structures or organs between species. For example, the vertebrate skeleton across fish, amphibians, reptiles, mammals and birds are very similar; notably they all have a spine with ribs and a skull.
The Bible describes a “balm” of Gilead that is counted among “the choice fruits of the land” (Gen 43:11). Renowned for its medicinal and aromatic properties, it was a prized product in ancient times as it is today.
Rumination has the following definitions: “the act of thinking carefully and for a long period about something” and “the act of bringing up food from the stomach and chewing it again”. Yet, are these definitions really that different? One is the ‘chewing over’ of an idea in the mind, the other of food in the stomach. The eating definition is associated with a group of animals called ruminants, including cattle, sheep, goats, deer, giraffes, camels, and llamas. Being a ruminant was one of the requirements of clean animals under the Law (Lev 11:3; Deut 14:6), where “chewing the cud” is simply another way of saying rumination.
“When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, ‘Come!’ And out came another horse, bright red. Its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that people should slay one another, and he was given a great sword.” (Rev 6:3-4 ESV)
As the story has it, Napoleon was walking through a small village in France, when he heard weeping coming from inside a small ramshackle building nearby. The sound was enough to stop Napoleon in his tracks and compel him to investigate this commotion. As he entered the building, he happened upon a group of Jews sprawled pathetically across a stone floor, reading a scroll by candlelight, weeping as they read. In astonishment, Napoleon turned to his men, wanting to know what great calamity had befallen the Jewish people for them to weep in such a way.
In this present age, what is the most insidious threat to our spiritual lives? Physical torture and persecution are not a present threat in western countries, so is the most sinister threat the persecution of the mind? Or is it the tolerant spirit of society, that accepts every view and every lifestyle? Or is it issues within the brotherhood which mean that many become disheartened?
Having spoken of the need to pray always and faint not, our Lord turns his attention to “those who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others” (Luke 18:9). The previous parable was specifically for the disciples and spoke of the manner by which God would vindicate His people. This parable is for a different audience—the religious leaders of his time—and deals with the fundamental question: how is one made right with God? In other words, on what basis does God declare a person righteous and effect reconciliation with Himself?
We need energy to make our bodies function. Whether we are moving or thinking or even just breathing, we need energy. So, how do the cells within our body convert food molecules into molecular fuel? How do they keep pace with our energy needs if we suddenly start to exercise?
There’s a conspiracy theory or truth, whichever way you view it, that has gained traction over the last few years called “The Great Reset”. Before you switch off, the point of this article is not to discuss whether this theory is true or not, but rather to take some spiritual lessons from something that is talked about in the world around us.
It is said that not one area of life will be untouched by the great reset plan, which aims to reform everything from government, energy and finance to food, medicine, real estate, policing and even how we interact with our fellow human beings. A global agenda to monitor and control the world through digital surveillance will create a technocracy, resulting in two tiers of people—the technocratic elite, who have all the power and rule over all the assets; and, the rest of society, who have no power, assets or say-so in anything.
Ezekiel 38:2 states: “Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him”. Magog was one of the sons of Japheth (see Gen 10:2). The descendants of the sons of Japheth generally settled in Europe. According to Josephus, Magog can be identified with the Scythians: “Magog founded those that from him were named Magogites, but who are by the Greeks called Scythians”.[1] By the time of Ezekiel in the sixth century BC, the Scythians had migrated from the east and settled in the region to the north of the Black Sea. As a National Geographic article about the archaeological remains of the Scythians stated:
“…the Scythians for some 400 years were masters of a great stretch of the European steppe. At its height their kingdom reached from the Danube east across Ukraine, Crimea, and Russia, all the way to the Don River and the Caucasus Mountains”.[2]
On 14 May 2023, Israel celebrated its 75th Anniversary. As part of that occasion, we are pleased to announce the release of Brother Stephen Whitehouse’s new book, The Story of Israel & the Coming of Elijah. This must-read account explores Israel’s significance in God’s plan and examines how this fulfils the Scriptures.
A unique feature of all the prophecies that deal with the last days is the concentration of global power. Daniel 2 speaks of Nebuchadnezzar’s image rising to its feet with elements of all the past empires being represented in the world today. Daniel 7 speaks of a Beast that becomes more powerful and ferocious with a little horn that seeks to change times, laws and seasons. Ezekiel 38 speaks of a massive coalition of nations, which encompasses much of the Eurasian continent. Revelation speaks of an alignment of political, religious, economic and military powers which climaxes in Armageddon.
This year, 2023, marks the centenary of three events, which directly affected the Jews and changed the course of history. All three events facilitated the return of the Jews to their ancient homeland.
Hitler, the Beer Hall Putsch 8 November 1923[1]
In 1923, on 8 November, Adolph Hitler proclaimed a Nazi revolution at a Munich beer hall, which became known to history as the “Beer Hall Putsch” (revolution). The next day he tried to take over the Bavarian government by marching on the administration with the support of his private army of over 2000 Storm Troopers. The attempt failed. Police opened fire, killing sixteen of his followers, while Hitler was arrested and sentenced to five years in prison for treason.
“For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Cor. 4:6)
In the previous article we reflected on the wondrous concept of being “in Christ”: members of his body, branches in the true vine, sheep led by the true shepherd, stones in a holy temple. These are lofty thoughts for finite minds, but the notion of “Christ in us” is even loftier.
In Joshua 21 we are informed about the casting of lots for certain portions of the land for the Levites. In verses 10-11 we learn that God was going to decide which Levitical family would inherit the cities in the tribe of Judah, and Hebron in particular. We also learn that these children of Aaron were to be apportioned 13 cities amongst the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin.
It is significant that the first city mentioned was Hebron (v11,13). Why is Hebron being emphasised by position and repetition? One reason is because Caleb had given it up as his inheritance—we have seen evidence for that in previous articles. A second reason is that while the many children of Aaron would be divided amongst the 13 cities, the direct high priestly line probably lived in Hebron.
When we think of the teaching of our Lord, vulnerability may not be the first idea that comes to mind. But it is there, within our Lord’s teaching—the sense of being vulnerable to each other and being vulnerable to our God.
What do we mean by vulnerability? Well, it’s the idea of being open and not hardened. It’s the idea of being open to attack. The dictionary definition of the word is “the quality of being exposed to the possibility of harm”.… Read More
The parable concerning the unjust judge and the persistent widow is one which is only recorded by Luke in his 18thchapter. It follows hard on the heels of a salient warning in the previous chapter, in which our Lord described the dismemberment of the nation by the Roman eagles. He alerted his disciples to the signs that would herald that destruction. They would experience days identical to the days of Noah and the days of Lot in which violence and immorality would abound.… Read More
The Christadelphian faith is no longer a Western dominated faith. There are now more brothers and sisters in Africa, Asia and other non-Western countries than there are in Western countries. It has been observed that in the present time there is an inverse relationship in riches and faith. The weal...… Read More
In Genesis 1:21 we read, “And God created great whales”. The Hebrew word is tanniym and means ‘sea monster’. These great monsters of the deep would include a variety of sea creatures, including the whales, which are among some of the largest creatures in the world.… Read More
Matthew’s gospel is not in chronological order. It is referred to as the ‘didactic (instructive) gospel’ and is like a mosaic of the Master’s teachings, given in different places and at different times, but collected together and arranged to show the Lord as the master teacher; one of whom it would be recorded “the people were astonished at his doctrine: For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes” (7:28-29).… Read More
Seventy years after his death, Brother William Islip Collyer (always known by his second name) remains one of our community’s most popular authors. Born in Leicester in 1876, he was baptised at Leicester in 1893 when he was 17. His earliest contribution to our literature was published in The Christadelphian for May 1895; another longer piece from his pen was published the following month. Until he fell asleep at the age of 77 on 10 March 1953, his insightful writings continued to grace the pages of that magazine, and later The Testimony, in the first issue of which he wrote the lead article.… Read More
The Apostle Peter wrote in his second letter about the enduring power and value of the prophetic word and the divine operation of the Holy Spirit on its authors. “And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Pet 1:19-21 ESV)[1].… Read More
Randolph Hearst, the multimillionaire newspaperman, was a great collector of art. One day Mr Hearst found a description of some valuable items he wanted to own. He ordered his art agent to go abroad to find them. After months of searching, the agent reported that he had finally traced down these valuable pieces of ancient art. They were in Mr Hearst’s warehouse. Hearst had been searching frantically for treasures he already owned. Had he read his own catalogue, he would have discovered he already had that for which he was looking.… Read More
The titles “Lord” and “Christ” are regularly applied to Jesus in the gospels. Elisabeth marvelled, when Mary came to visit her, “that the mother of my Lord should come to me” (Luke 1:43). The angel said to the shepherds: “Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11). A leper came to Jesus “and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt thou canst make me clean” (Matt 8:2). And Jesus said of himself: “The Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day” (Matt 12:8).… Read More
There are some roles in the ecclesia which are small but mighty. Sometimes just a few Bible verses disguise very human circumstances of difficulty, success, disappointment, and joy. With this in mind we are going to consider some exhortations from the life of Abigail—a remarkable woman who was mo...… Read More
Inheriting the KingdomHow can it be said that nations “inherit the kingdom prepared for them from the foundation of the world”?The word, “inherit” “strictly means to receive by lot; then in a more general sense, to possess oneself of, to receive as one’s own, to obtain” (Vine)...… Read More
Eternal life is the glorious hope of those who know God and who know the Lord Jesus Christ. We define the gospel as “the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ” (Acts 8:12). More than half the clauses in the BASF refer to the Lord Jesus—his birth, … Read More
Satchel Paige, the baseball philosopher is credited with the saying, “How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you was”. There are some fairly young people who would give an age much beyond their actual years and there are some elderly people who would say that they … Read More
One of the largest and most important rivers in Israel today, the Kishon River is amongst the most complex. It rises in the hills about Tabor and Gilboa, and flows along the Plain of Esdraelon from the Jezreel Valley to the sea at Haifa Bay. Its name means “bending [or] … Read More
Recently I opened the green cover of the Christadelphian Unity In Australia booklet published by the Central Standing Committee in 1963 in celebration of five years of Unity in Australia. Yes, confession, I needed to blow off the dust, and looking back, I suspect this was only the second time in 50 … Read More
The origins of the enmity The book of Obadiah highlights the relationship between Edom and Israel, and the animosity of Edom towards their “brother” (1:10). However, this is not the first time we read of such a strained relationship between these brotherly nations. In fact, the enmity of Edom towards … Read More
Four writers, four faces Why did God see fit to provide us with four accounts of the life and teaching of the Lord? Why not just write one gospel with all the information contained in it? God chose to use four different men to write a record of His Son’s … Read More
Bone is living tissue and is the hardest tissue in the body. In Job 10:11 we read: “Thou hast clothed me with skin and flesh, and hast fenced me with bones and sinews”. Bones are protective like a fence. They provide security to the human frame as well as generating … Read More
Whilst we know from the prophetic markers that we are living at the time of the end no one knows the exact hour of our Lord’s appearance (Matt 24:36,42,44, 50; 25:13). In light of this, our Master seeks from us all a constant readiness, a state of alertness which is … Read More
Here’s a question to consider. If God came to any one of us—if he appeared in a dream, or if he sent an Angel, and commanded any one of us to do something—how would we respond? I don’t know about you, but I would imagine that I would probably be … Read More
The discovery of a collection of ivory plaques from the First Temple period in Jerusalem are the first to be unearthed in the city.[1] Ivory objects are among the rarest archaeological finds. Archaeologists believe that the decorated ivory objects are approximately 2700 years old. The discovery was made during the excavations … Read More
Helen Keller, who was both blind and deaf, was asked, “What would you say is worse than being blind?” She replied,“Having sight without vision”.Solomon says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he”. … Read More
A reader, understanding that Psalm 69 is a messianic psalm, has asked for an explanation of this latter part of verse 9. In what way were the people reproaching God and how did these reproaches fall on His Son? “And David saith…” The superscription of this psalm declares it to … Read More
Listening is an important life skill. If you are driving from Adelaide to Melbourne and ignore your navigator, you could end up in Darwin. That would inconvenience you by more than three thousand kilometres. While it would be an inconvenience to you, in the grand scheme of things, it is … Read More
When we discuss ‘living the Truth’ we often talk about faith, prayer and habitual Bible study. However, we often miss one critical element: life stewardship. Although a similar concept to discipleship, life stewardship refers to how we manage the situations God puts in our lives. Christ alludes to the idea … Read More
Fish come in all shapes and sizes, some are free swimming, while others rest on the bottom of the sea, some are herbivores and others are carnivores, and some lay eggs while others give live birth and parental care to their young. The total number of living fish species—about 32,000—is … Read More
The inclement, drizzly weather could not dampen the enthusiasm and warmth we felt as we met together for the Adelaide Combined Weekend held in October 2022 at the Cornerstone College in Mt Barker. After a restricted couple of years, the large numbers indicated a desire to fellowship in the wonderful … Read More
After our Lord had spoken to the twelve about the fate of Jerusalem at the hands of the Romans, he uttered a series of parables, which were designed to instruct them as to how they should live their lives during his absence.… Read More
Lying at the bottom of the Earth’s deepest fault, the Dead Sea is 396 metres below sea level.[1] It is the saltiest body of water in the world and holds large quantities of valuable minerals. The earliest reference in the Bible calls it the Salt Sea (Gen 14:3), and it is also known as the Sea of the Plain (Deut 4:49) and the East Sea (Ezek 47:18). There are other indirect references to the Dead Sea in the Scriptures.… Read More
We know from Ezekiel 38 that Persia (Iran) is a key part of Gog’s confederacy. This area consists of part of the ancient Babylonian and Persian empires. Also with Gog is Libya and Ethiopia (which includes modern day Sudan). These are both specifically mentioned in Daniel 11:43 as being with the King of the North. Togarmah is modern day Turkey, part of the ancient Eastern Roman Empire. A key description of Gog is that he is a “guard” or “protector” of these countries (38:7). Ezekiel 38 is consistent with Daniel 2,7,8 and 11. All these chapters tell the same story but from different perspectives.… Read More
The exhortation to remember and to forget not is a constant theme throughout the Scriptures. Israel were frequently reminded to remember the works of God along with His commandments and statutes (Deut 8:11). They were instructed to teach their children about God’s power so that “they might set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments” (Psa 78:1-7).… Read More
There was no shortage of food provided to the people. They need never go short of spiritual food. Should they do so, then the lack would be due to their own indifference, not due to insufficiency on the Lord’s part. The Lord then sends out the disciples to collect up the leftovers. This emphasises that there would be ample spiritual food for all who desire to be filled with the teachings of Christ, yet this food was not to be wasted.… Read More
We are most likely familiar with some of the more well-known psalms which describe the prowess and victory of the future king of all the earth. Psalms like Psalm 72 portray a sovereign who rules the world with justice and mercy. Psalm 45 describes him riding prosperously with the people … Read More
We’ve all heard the saying about being up a creek without a paddle. It refers to being caught in a predicament with no resources with which to extricate ourselves. But even with a paddle, the paddle has to be used, and used properly, before the goal is reached. Think of … Read More
In 1881, Eliezer Ben Yehuda[1] began creating a Hebrew dictionary for the modern Jewish state. As a young man, Ben Yehuda “realized that Jews could never have any country of their own, or any national entity, unless they had a common language”.[2] Today, his work continues at the Academy of the Hebrew … Read More
The righteous will not beg Into this consideration, God interjects a contrast that we do well to take note of in this day and age when we are constantly encouraged to strive to accumulate more (Psa 37:16-19): “A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of … Read More
The Bible commands us to gather together for worship. “Forsake not the assembling of yourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more as ye see the day approaching” it says in Hebrews 10:25. But what if you just don’t enjoy being … Read More
A recent study in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface reports on “A feedback control principle common to several biological and engineered systems”. The researchers, Jonathan Y. Suen and Saket Navlakha, show how harvester ants (Pogonomyrmex barbatus) use a feedback control algorithm to regulate foraging behaviour. As Science Daily notes, the study determined … Read More
“When doubts and fears arise” HAVING DOUBTS does not mean that we lack faith. “Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief” (Mark 9:24) is a plea to which all may relate. As frail, mortal believers we should expect that we will sometimes struggle to understand the ways of God. As … Read More
The opening chapter of John’s gospel provides a wonderful introduction to the work of redemption in Christ. Beginnings always propose something important. Whether it is the beginning of God’s creative majesty in Genesis 1, or the rearrangement of the calendar to commemorate a great act of national redemption in Exodus 12, to record a beginning is to signal an incident worthy of our deepest attention. So it is with John’s … Read More
From time to time, we come across some scriptural gems—nuggets of gold—which we have not seen before. Recent discussion about sin entering the world brought our thoughts to that amazing phrase, “the foundation of the world”. It is a New Testament phrase, occurring 10 times in the record, but to what time period does it refer? There must be a key to determine exactly this time period. Brother Thomas, whom … Read More
Without involvement, there is no commitment. Mark it down, asterisk it, circle it, underline it. “No involvement, no commitment”—Stephen Covey. Just how involved are we in the Lord’s work? Remember that at the age of twelve the Lord Jesus asked his mother, “Why did you seek me? Did you not know that I must be about my Father’s business?” Are we committed to our heavenly Father’s business? Can we be … Read More