Names of God

Welcome to a new year of daily expositional meditations. As you have discovered, these E-Med(itations) are more than a devotional, but an exposition of Scripture with application in mind and worship in heart – those twin goals define my objective for you who...

Then Moses said to God, “Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you.’ Now they may say to me, ‘What is His name?’ What shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said,...

Then Moses said to God, “Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you.’ Now they may say to me, ‘What is His name?’ What shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said,...

God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ” … ‘The LORD … has sent me to you.’ This is My name forever, and this is My memorial-name to all generations." (Exodus 3:14) "God” is not...

God spoke further to Moses and said to him, “I am the LORD; and I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as God Almighty, but by My name, LORD, I did not make Myself known to them. (Genesis 6:2-3) Hebrew language in the OT does not contain a word for the...

Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.” Therefore they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple. (John 8:58) Was Jesus claiming to be God when He said, “Before Abraham was...

To Seth, to him also a son was born; and he called his name Enosh. Then men began to call upon the name of the LORD. (Genesis 4:26) The first mention of the name of God, Yahweh, in Scripture is actually recorded in the second chapter of the Bible: “This is...

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1) The first reference to God in Scripture shows Him as an acting, creating God. (We will come back to the name Yahweh later in our readings.) The word “Elohim” in Genesis 1:1 is a fairly...

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness… The LORD God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us…” (Genesis 1:26, 3:22) "Elohim” is a plural word, Hebrew scholars tell us. Some today are quick to think the roots of the...

This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made earth and heaven. (Genesis 2:4) Two of the most significant terms for God, “Elohim” and the divine name, Yahweh, are found in precise combination...

“Therefore, I will make you go into exile beyond Damascus,” says the LORD, whose name is the God of hosts. (Amos 5:27) Amos was not a man of high religious standing. By his own writing, “I am not a prophet, nor am I the son of a prophet; for I am a herdsman...

And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of God Most High. He blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your...

The oracle of him who hears the words of God, and knows the knowledge of the Most High, who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down, yet having his eyes uncovered. (Numbers 24:16) While the term “Elyon” is connected with “Elohim,” the Creator God, as...

Then he [Jacob] erected there an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel. (Genesis 33:20) Epithets about God are found in various combinations. While “Elohe-Israel” occurs 191 times in Scripture, we find it prefixed with “El” only here in Genesis 33:20. While...

“The Mighty One, God, the Lord, the Mighty One, God, the Lord! He knows, and may Israel itself know. If it was in rebellion, or if in an unfaithful act against the Lord do not save us this day!” (Joshua 22:22) God is addressed in an expansive way; in the...

For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6) A remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob,...

Then she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, “You are a God who sees”; for she said, “Have I even remained alive here after seeing Him?” Therefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi… (Genesis 16:13) Elohim in its short form El combines with other...

When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before Me, and be blameless.” (Genesis 17:1) One of the more well-known names for God, “El Shaddai,” simply means God Almighty. This was the name by...

“Thus they answered us, saying, ‘We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth and are rebuilding the temple that was built many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and finished.’” (Ezra 5:11) The term “elah” is an Aramaic designation for God....

Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the furnace of blazing fire; he responded and said, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, come out, you servants of the Most High God, and come here!” Then Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego came out of the midst of the...

“Can mankind be just before God? Can a man be pure before his Maker?” (Job 4:17) The term “eloah” seems to be a variation on the more common term, “elohim,” and is universally translated generically as “God.” What is particularly noteworthy is that of the 58...

Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have sworn to the LORD God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth, that I will not take a thread or a sandal thong or anything that is yours, for fear you would say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’” (Genesis 14:22–23) Found...

Abraham planted a tamarisk tree at Beersheba, and there he called on the name of the LORD, the Everlasting God. (Genesis 21:33) For those raised in a “Christian” culture where theJudeo-Christian concept of God pervades our background, the default...

[Elijah] said, “I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the sons of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I alone am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.” (1 Kings...

I will give thanks to the LORD according to His righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High. (Psalm 7:17) Names of God occur in various permutations; in our verse (and in Psalm 97:9,) occurs God’s formal, personal name “Yahweh”...

Now this man [Elkanah] would go up from his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice to the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests to the LORD there. (1 Samuel 1:3) The time of the judges was drawing to a close,...

“The city shall be 18,000 cubits round about; and the name of the city from that day shall be, ‘The LORD is there.’ ” (Ezekiel 48:35) The book of Ezekiel is well-known for its sci-fi-like visions of four-faced and four-winged angels, choreographed spinning...

Abraham called the name of that place The LORD Will Provide, as it is said to this day, “In the mount of the LORD it will be provided.” (Genesis 22:14) Pivotal in biblical history is the event in our passage today, Abraham offering up Isaac, his promised...

The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “But as for you, speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘You shall surely observe My sabbaths; for this is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you.’”...

Moses built an altar and named it The LORD is My Banner; and he said, “The LORD has sworn; the LORD will have war against Amalek from generation to generation.” (Exodus 17:15–16) Banners in the ancient world showed prominently during war. They were the...

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. (Psalm 23:1) One of the most beloved portions of all Scripture, Psalm 23 has brought comfort to millions through the years, especially at times of loss and grief. As A.F. Kirkpatrick says in his commentary, The Book...

And [Moses] said, “If you will give earnest heed to the voice of the LORD your God, and do what is right in His sight, and give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians; for...

In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the LORD sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple. Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with...

And the foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of him who called out, while the temple was filling with smoke. Then I said, “Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes...

When Gideon saw that he was the angel of the LORD, he said, “Alas, O LORD God! For now I have seen the angel of the LORD face to face.” The LORD said to him, “Peace to you, do not fear; you shall not die.” Then Gideon built an altar there to the LORD and...

“The city shall be 18,000 cubits round about; and the name of the city from that day shall be, ‘The LORD is there [Shammah].’ ” (Ezekiel 48:35) In this last verse in the book of Ezekiel, his vision injects hope into the people of Israel, now in Babylonian...

“Behold, the days are coming,” declares the LORD, “When I will raise up for David a righteous Branch; and He will reign as king and act wisely and do justice and righteousness in the land. In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely; and...

“Behold, God [El] is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; for the LORD [Yahweh] God [Yah] is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation.” (Isaiah 12:2) This one verse contains three names of God, with “Yah” representing a shortened form of...

He [Moses] said, “If now I have found favor in Your sight, O Lord [Adonai], I pray, let the Lord [Adonai] go along in our midst, even though the people are so obstinate, and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us as Your own possession.” (Exodus 34:9)...

Joshua said, “Alas, O Lord GOD [Adonai Yahweh], why did You ever bring this people over the Jordan, only to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? If only we had been willing to dwell beyond the Jordan!” (Josh 7:7) Even great leaders...

“What do you mean by crushing My people and grinding the face of the poor?” declares the LORD God of hosts [sabbaoth]. (Isaiah 3:15) Used primarily around the Babylonian exile, this extended fusion of divine names was reserved by the prophets Isaiah and...

“I kept looking until thrones were set up, and the Ancient of Days took His seat; His vesture was like white snow and the hair of His head like pure wool. His throne was ablaze with flames, its wheels were a burning fire. A river of fire was flowing and...

Then the LORD passed by in front of [Moses] and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin;...

Then the LORD passed by in front of [Moses] and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin;...

Then the LORD passed by in front of [Moses] and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin;...

Then the LORD passed by in front of [Moses] and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin;...

Then the LORD passed by in front of [Moses] and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin;...

Then the LORD passed by in front of [Moses] and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin;...

The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief corner stone. (Psalm 118:22) Construction term that it is, the “cornerstone” metaphor is used in all three synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke), by Peter in his second great Jerusalem sermon...

The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief corner stone. (Psalm 118:22) One would naturally think that if the story were invented by human creativity, the rejected stone would roll back over the building and the builder and destroy them all....

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the defense of my life; whom shall I dread? (Psalm 27:1) The Book of Psalms has provided comfort and encouragement to many believers through the centuries. In discouragements, sufferings,...

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. (Isaiah 40:28) Comprehensive in scope, this description or name combination of God...

“Know therefore that the LORD your God, He is God [Elohim], the faithful [Han-Emen] God [El], who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments; but repays those who hate Him to their...

“If the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear [pahad] of Isaac, had not been for me, surely now you would have sent me away empty-handed. God has seen my affliction and the toil of my hands, so He rendered judgment last night.” (Genesis 31:42)...

“They refused to listen, and did not remember Your wondrous deeds which You had performed among them; so they became stubborn and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt. But You are a God of forgiveness, gracious and compassionate, slow to...

He said also, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Then Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.” (Exodus 3:6) Thirteen times in the Bible, both Old Testament and new, this phrase occurs,...

He said also, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Then Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.” (Exodus 3:6) It all began with Abraham—the continuity of faith that extends to our present...

He said also, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Then Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.” (Exodus 3:6) Abraham had many sons by at least three different women: Ishmael by the servant...

He said also, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Then Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.” (Exodus 3:6) God revealed Himself in the line of orthodoxy first to Abraham, then to Isaac,...

He said also, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Then Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.” (Exodus 3:6) Jacob’s faith in God did not come automatically; it was not inherited. In him we...

“The God of Abraham and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us.” So Jacob swore by the fear of his father Isaac. (Genesis 31:53) We include this description as a contrast. Jacob specifically does not swear by either the God of Abraham or...

The LORD, the God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and from the land of my birth, and who spoke to me and who swore to me, saying, ‘To your descendants I will give this land,’ He will send His angel before you, and you will take a wife for my...

“Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh; is anything too difficult for Me?” (Jeremiah 32:27) Scripture adorns the name of God, Yahweh, with various modifiers. These in no way reduce God, as though He needed modification. Rather, like a rainbow, the...

“I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar, where you made a vow to Me; now arise, leave this land, and return to the land of your birth.” (Genesis 31:13) Far away from the land of his father, Isaac, and his grandfather, Abraham, Jacob found...

The voice of the LORD is upon the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD is over many waters. (Psalm 29:3) Picture the psalmist David sitting on the side of a mountain in northern Israel watching a storm blow in off the Mediterranean Sea, across...

“For the LORD your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God who does not show partiality nor take a bribe. (Deuteronomy 10:17) Polytheism is the generic belief in many gods. Some religions have innumerable...

O God, You are awesome from Your sanctuary. The God of Israel Himself gives strength and power to the people. Blessed be God! (Psalm 68:35) Of course, He is the God of Israel; nothing could be more clear in the Old Testament. But we often overlook the...

Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you, and therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; how blessed are all those who long for Him. (Isaiah 30:18) Harkening back to Exodus 34:6-7 where God showed Moses His...

You will have songs as in the night when you keep the festival, and gladness of heart as when one marches to the sound of the flute, to go to the mountain of the LORD, to the Rock of Israel. And the LORD will cause His voice of authority to be heard, and the...

The LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime; and His song will be with me in the night, a prayer to the God of my life. (Psalm 42:8) A yearning for God, this psalm expresses the heart of many Christians for a deeper relationship with God. It...

“They will pay heed to what you say; and you with the elders of Israel will come to the king of Egypt and you will say to him, ‘The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. So now, please, let us go a three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we...

But they fell on their faces and said, “O God, God of the spirits of all flesh, when one man sins, will You be angry with the entire congregation?” (Numbers 16:22) “May the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation …”...

Then David said to all the assembly, “Now bless the LORD your God.” And all the assembly blessed the LORD, the God of their fathers, and bowed low and did homage to the LORD and to the king.” (1 Chronicles 29:20) Connectedness. Spiritual heritage. Tradition....

‘Thus you shall say to Joseph, ‘Please forgive, I beg you, the transgression of your brothers and their sin, for they did you wrong.’” And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” And Joseph wept when they spoke to...

“Go and say to Hezekiah, ‘Thus says the LORD, the God of your father David, “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; behold, I will add fifteen years to your life.’” (Isaiah 38:5) Spiritual continuity continued throughout Israel’s history. The...

Then David said to his son Solomon, “Be strong and courageous, and act; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you nor forsake you until all the work for the service of the house of the LORD is finished.” (1...

“Because he who is blessed in the earth will be blessed by the God of truth; and he who swears in the earth will swear by the God of truth…” (Isaiah 65:16a) In our multi-faith, pluralistic world, the notion of absolute truth has suffered among the elites as...

O LORD, God of vengeance, God of vengeance, shine forth! (Psalm 94:1) Vengeance is not one of the softer descriptions of God, to be sure. To many, it smacks of medieval caricatures and oppressive, controlling religious institutions or fiery Bible-thumpers on...

“I will surely tell of the decree of the LORD: He said to Me, ‘You are My Son, today I have begotten You.’” (Psalm 2:7) Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way, for His wrath may soon be kindled. How blessed are all who take...

“They refused to listen, and did not remember Your wondrous deeds which You had performed among them; so they became stubborn and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt. But You are a God of forgiveness, gracious and compassionate, slow to...

Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; yes, our God is compassionate. (Psalm 116:5) Our quest to know God returns to common themes, combined in various ways. In this single verse we have three adjectives (gracious, righteous, compassionate) and two nouns (LORD...

“For the LORD your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God who does not show partiality nor take a bribe. (Deuteronomy 10:17) Many Scripture passages drip with descriptions of God, and this is a key one. A...

“For the LORD your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God who does not show partiality nor take a bribe. (Deuteronomy 10:17) Yahweh God is not simply a remote, impersonal, austere deity that watches over the...

For the LORD is a great God and a great King above all gods … (Psalm 95:3) Descriptions of God are well worth repeating, for how can one exhaust the greatness of God? The psalm writer was overcome with joy as he contemplated the Lord he worships. He begins...

O come, let us sing for joy to the LORD, let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. (Psalm 95:1–2) Rocks are sturdy, solid. Houses built on solid rock stand...

[God] struck down some of the men of Beth-shemesh because they had looked into the ark of the LORD … The men of Beth-shemesh said, “Who is able to stand before the LORD, this holy God? And to whom shall He go up from us?” (1 Samuel 6:19-20) "Holy,” the word,...

I will also praise You with a harp, even Your truth, O my God; to You I will sing praises with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel. (Ps 71:22). As common as the word “holy” is in Scripture, and as frequently objects associated with Israel’s worship are called...

For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol; nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay. (Psalm 16:10) Psalm 16 has brought spiritual comfort to many believers through the years. It is a message of faith, an expression of trust, for all who struggle in...

But when he sees his children, the work of My hands, in his midst, they will sanctify My name; indeed, they will sanctify the Holy One of Jacob and will stand in awe of the God of Israel. (Isaiah 29:23) Warning Jerusalem of impending judgment, God sent a...

“I love You, O LORD, my strength.” The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. (Psalm 18:1–2) The closest to the NT word “agape” that we find in the OT...

“I love You, O LORD, my strength.” The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. (Psalm 18:1–2) While elsewhere the psalmist wrote that God was “the rock...

“I love You, O LORD, my strength.” The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. (Psalm 18:1–2) Fortresses are impregnable by definition. Of course, at a...

“I love You, O LORD, my strength.” The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. (Psalm 18:1–2) The term “deliverance” occurs mostly in the book of Psalms...

“I love You, O LORD, my strength.” The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. (Psalm 18:1–2) At the peak of Solomon’s reign as Israel’s most illustrious...

“I love You, O LORD, my strength.” The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. (Psalm 18:1–2) God is sufficient in every circumstance. David learned this...

“I love You, O LORD, my strength.” The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. (Psalm 18:1–2) Similar to a fortress, David reflects on God being his...

4 “You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of...

7 But God is the Judge; He puts down one and exalts another. 8 For a cup is in the hand of the Lord, and the wine foams; it is well mixed, and He pours out of this; surely all the wicked of the earth must drain and drink down its dregs. (Psalm 75:7–8) Most...

16 “But if you have understanding, hear this; listen to the sound of my words. 17 Shall one who hates justice rule? And will you condemn the righteous mighty One…?” (Job 34:16–17) True words to be sure, but the context reveals their import. The charge is...

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation, humble, and mounted on a donkey, even on a colt, the foal of a donkey. (Zechariah 9:9) Familiar is this...

For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; He will save us … (Isaiah 33:22) Combining epithets we have written about elsewhere, we focus on the Lord as “our lawgiver.” The people of Israel found great delight in the Law of...

3 “Incline your ear and come to Me. Listen, that you may live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, according to the faithful mercies shown to David. 4 Behold, I have made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples.”...

Many are saying of my soul, “There is no deliverance for him in God.” Selah. But You, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the One who lifts my head. I was crying to the LORD with my voice, and He answered me from His holy mountain. Selah. (Psalm...

1 As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for You, O God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; when shall I come and appear before God? (Psalm 42:1–2) So begins a heart-wrenching song to the Lord, the expression of a deep desire to...

“For you will no longer remember the oracle of the LORD, because every man’s own word will become the oracle, and you have perverted the words of the living God, the LORD of hosts, our God.” (Jeremiah 23:36). Weeping prophet, as he was known, Jeremiah was...

1 How lovely are Your dwelling places, O LORD of hosts! 2 My soul longed and even yearned for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God. 3 The bird also has found a house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may...

“Let Your name be established and magnified forever, saying, ‘The LORD of hosts is the God of Israel, even a God to Israel; and the house of David Your servant is established before You.’” (1 Chronicles 17:24) David has it in his heart to build a house for...

“Behold, I am about to build a house for the name of the LORD my God, dedicating it to Him, to burn fragrant incense before Him and to set out the showbread continually, and to offer burnt offerings morning and evening, on sabbaths and on new moons and on...

The king answered Daniel and said, “Surely your God is a God of gods and a Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, since you have been able to reveal this mystery.” (Daniel 2:47) Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, was a man who had an up and down...

17 “For the LORD your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God who does not show partiality nor take a bribe. 18 He executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and shows His love for the alien by giving him...

“Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!” (Deuteronomy 6:4) Called the “Shema,” this is considered the central prayer in the Jewish faith. Actually, the Shema is the entire section of Deuteronomy 6:4-9. Embedded in the heart and mind of every...

6 Come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker. 7 For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand. (Psalm 95:6–7a) Worship, when unhindered by the cares of this world, pours out from the soul...

30 ‘The LORD your God who goes before you will Himself fight on your behalf, just as He did for you in Egypt before your eyes, 31 and in the wilderness where you saw how the LORD your God carried you, just as a man carries his son, in all the way which you...

0 My God in His lovingkindness will meet me; God will let me look triumphantly upon my foes ...17 O my strength, I will sing praises to You; for God is my stronghold, the God who shows me lovingkindness. (Psalm 59:10, 17) Love is from God, we are told in 1...

“For the LORD your God is a compassionate God; He will not fail you nor destroy you nor forget the covenant with your fathers which He swore to them. (Deuteronomy 4:31) Virtually every other English translation (besides NASB) renders this, “For the LORD your...

25 “So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with plaza and moat, even in times of distress. 26 Then...

21 But there the majestic One, the LORD, will be for us a place of rivers and wide canals on which no boat with oars will go, and on which no mighty ship will pass— 22 for the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; He will save us...

1 O God, do not remain quiet; do not be silent and, O God, do not be still. 2 For behold, Your enemies make an uproar, and those who hate You have exalted themselves … 18 That they may know that You alone, whose name is the LORD, are the Most High over all...

5 For You are my hope; O LORD GOD, You are my confidence from my youth. 6By You I have been sustained from my birth; You are He who took me from my mother’s womb; my praise is continually of You. (Ps 71:5-6). "Prayer of an Old Man for Deliverance,” as the...

I will bless the LORD who has counseled me; indeed, my mind instructs me in the night. (Psalm 16:7). David learned early in life, on the hillsides of Judea, as he watched over his father’s flocks, to order his mind to the Word of God. Being from a faithful...

The LORD is the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You support my lot. (Psalm 16:5). Pleasant or bitter experiences of life fill our cup. In Psalm 23, David’s “cup overflows” with “goodness and mercy” (Ps 23:5b-6a). James and John expressed their...

4 Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy; and upon the lyre I shall praise You, O God, my God. 5 Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why are you disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him, the help of my...

But You, O LORD, are a shield about me, My glory, and the One who lifts my head. I was crying to the LORD with my voice, and He answered me from His holy mountain. Selah. (Psalm 3:3–4) There are at least two senses in which this can be taken (discerning...

“You, O LORD, be not far off; O You my help, hasten to my assistance” (Psalm 22:19). We all need help at times, though often we don’t admit it. Asking for help admits to neediness. But in this world we sometimes face things much greater than ourselves, and...

4 Rescue me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, Out of the grasp of the wrongdoer and ruthless man, 5 For You are my hope; O LORD God, You are my confidence from my youth. (Psalm 71:4–5) One asks for help because one believes that the person being...

16 The LORD is King forever and ever; nations have perished from His land. 17 O LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will strengthen their heart, You will incline Your ear (Psalm 10:16–17) Kingship portrays majesty, highness—being far above the...

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the defense of my life; whom shall I dread? (Psalm 27:1) When Jesus said, “I am the light of the world…” (John 8:12), He was hinting at His identity with the God of the OT. Though the...

The LORD is the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You support my lot. (Psalm 16:5) When people die, the possessions they leave behind are claimed by their children, near relatives, or those otherwise named, in legal terms, “heirs.” What is left behind is...

25 “As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will take His stand on the earth. 26 Even after my skin is destroyed, yet from my flesh I shall see God; 27 whom I myself shall behold, and whom my eyes will see and not another ….” (Job...

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!” (Psalm 91:1–2) Sometimes we need the protective confines of a safe place—time to regroup,...

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the defense of my life; whom shall I dread? (Psalm 27:1) If there is one thing Christians know about, it is salvation. The word occurs about 400 times in the Bible (either in the form...

The LORD is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation. (Psalm 118:14) Figures of speech abound in Scripture, especially the OT poetic literature, like the book of Psalms. Here we find what E.W. Bullinger calls a metonymy, where one thing is put or...

He who sits in the heavens laughs, the LORD scoffs at them. (Psalm 2:4) The NIV renders this verse, “The One enthroned in heaven laughs….” The Lord is pictured as one who rules (see NLT), as echoed in what is called the Lord’s Prayer: “Our Father, who is in...

7 O God, when you went out before your people, when you marched through the wilderness, Selah 8 the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain, before God, the One of Sinai, before God, the God of Israel. (Psalm 68:7–8 ESV) The Hebrew phrasing is a bit...

11 Make vows to the LORD your God and fulfill them; let all who are around Him bring gifts to Him who is to be feared. 12 He will cut off the spirit of princes; He is feared by the kings of the earth. (Psalm 76:11–12) We tend to distance ourselves from...

3 “Hear, O Israel, you are approaching the battle against your enemies today. Do not be fainthearted. Do not be afraid, or panic, or tremble before them, 4 for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save...

[God] remembered us in our low estate, for His lovingkindness is everlasting… (Psalm 136:23) So glad God has a good memory. By good, I mean He remembers well according to His goodness. After all, Scripture does speak of His forgetfulness, in the sense that...

3 From the rising of the sun to its setting the name of the Lord is to be praised. 4 The Lord is high above all nations; His glory is above the heavens. 5 Who is like the Lord our God, who is enthroned on high … (Psalm 113:3–5) God is up—we perceive this...

The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind, “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” (Psalm 110:4) This Melchizedek is an enigmatic character to most Bible readers. He is first mentioned in Genesis 14 as part of the biography of...

Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved me in my distress; be gracious to me and hear my prayer. (Psalm 4:1) Calling out to a righteous God is a dangerous thing. Why would He want to help us who are sinners? We are not even in the...

“Declare and set forth your case; indeed, let them consult together. Who has announced this from of old? Who has long since declared it? Is it not I, the Lord? And there is no other God besides Me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none except Me. (Is...

Wondrously show Your lovingkindness, O Savior of those who take refuge at Your right hand from those who rise up against them. (Psalm 17:7) How could one do a study of the names and epithets of God without commenting on one of the most frequently used terms...

“The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes, and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.” (Genesis 49:10) Located about 20 miles north of Jerusalem, the town of Shiloh was the place where...

Behold our shield, O God, and look upon the face of Your anointed. For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand outside. I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. For the Lord God is a sun and...

“But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall.” (Malachi 4:2) Contrasted with the previous verse, we who believe have a spring in our step, so to...

Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the sustainer of my soul. (Psalm 54:4) Just when difficulties calm down, tragedy strikes unexpectedly and sometimes repeatedly. Many people can handle one or two difficulties in life, but at times it seems the enemy of...

For the destroyer is coming against her, against Babylon, and her mighty men will be captured, their bows are shattered; for the LORD is a God of recompense, He will fully repay. (Jeremiah 51:56) Trifling with God is not a good thing. In fact, it is quite...

And [God] said, “If you will give earnest heed to the voice of the LORD your God, and do what is right in His sight, and give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians; for I,...

For You have been a refuge for me, a tower of strength against the enemy. (Psalm 61:3) God is our strength and stronghold (Ps 18:1-2). He is, further, our Tower of Strength. We can’t get enough of this truth that God is strong for us and will make us strong....

Then Jonathan said to David, “The LORD, the God of Israel, be witness! When I have sounded out my father about this time tomorrow, or the third day, behold, if there is good feeling toward David, shall I not then send to you and make it known to you?” (1...

The LORD is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand. The sun will not smite you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul. (Psalm 121:5–7) Cain’s angry retort to God reflected his contempt...

The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade on your right hand. The sun will not smite you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul. (Psalm 121:5–7) Related to the Lord being our keeper, He is also...

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1) New Testament references to God in general use the generic Greek term for deity, “Theos.” Employed some 1,400 times in the Bible (give or take depending on the English...

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1) Pivotal between the OT and NT, this verse packs a huge punch, being significant on several levels. While the Gospel According to John holds fourth place in the...

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1) Eternality is the first of three assertions made about “the Word,” which as we see from John 1:14 is Jesus Christ, who is the “Word became flesh.” In the beginning...

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1) Not only was the Word in the beginning, but more precisely, the Word was “with God.” There was never a time when Christ, who is the Word, was not with God. Here is the...

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1) One of the clearest statements on the deity of Jesus Christ is found in this simple statement, “and the Word was God.” It is entirely clear and without any confusion...

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1) Further supporting the full and unique deity of Christ, we simply observe other Scripture that consistently upholds this idea: Before Me there was no God formed, and...

And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come.” (Revelation 4:8)...

Since we have heard that some of our number to whom we gave no instruction have disturbed you with their words, unsettling your souls, it seemed good to us, having become of one mind, to select men to send to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men who...

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort … (2 Corinthians 1:3) Since we believe the Scripture teaches Jesus is God, then what is true of God is true of Jesus. Often, in looking at individual...

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort … (2 Corinthians 1:3) Someone once said, somewhat skeptically, “Yes, I believe God will help us Christians when we need Him, but I still need someone to help...

After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. (1 Peter 5:10) Grace is one of the most important words in the NT, used in Paul’s...

Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. (2 Corinthians 13:11) While the exact phrase, “the God of love,” only occurs here in the NT (NASB), His character as...

Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. (2 Corinthians 13:11) Universal in its desire, appears to be a rare commodity. In the ancient world, brute force and...

But Jesus answered and said to [the Sadducees], “You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures nor the power of God … regarding the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God: ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of...

And he said to me, “These words are faithful and true”; and the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent His angel to show to His bond-servants the things which must soon take place.” (Revelation 22:6) Fascinating descriptions of God abound in...

Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.” Therefore they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple. (John 8:58) We have seen elsewhere in this study the connection of John 8:58...

There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. (John 1:9) Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” (John 8:12) The...

Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” (John 8:12) Darkness engulfs the world—spiritual darkness. Apart from God, His image bearers walk around...

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.” (John 6:35) Hunger is an epidemic in our world today. Almost 780 million people suffer from chronic undernourishment...

9 I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. (John 10:9–10) Doors are for entering into...

“I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.” (John 10:11) “I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me” (John 10:14) Probably the best-known metaphor describing Christ is that of a shepherd. Who hasn’t see a...

Jesus said to [Martha], “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25–26). The family trio who were part of Jesus’ intimate...

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.” (John 15:1) “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5) The popular Christian chorus from back in the...

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.” (John 15:1) “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5) Abiding in the vine is the dynamic of...

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” (John 14:6) One verse, three metaphors; John with simple words conveys profound truths. With a soaring prologue (John 1:1-18) to begin this biography...

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” (John 14:6) Second of the three metaphors captured in this verse is Jesus’ assertion, “I am the truth.” Popular post-modern thinking would have us...

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” (John 14:6) “Life,” the word, occurs 47 times in the Gospel According to John, more than the other three gospel accounts combined. When John (quoting...

So also it is written, “The first man, Adam, became a living soul.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. (1 Corinthians 15:45) The name “Adam” represents not only the first individual created by God, but also the entire human race. In the Hebrew OT,...

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; (1 John 2:1) Plan A – don’t sin; Plan B – and God provides an advocate. John’s simplicity has...

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:8) Of the many descriptions of God in the Bible, “Almighty” is very common, reflecting the One who is more powerful than anything or...

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:8) Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the...

“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this …” (Revelation 3:14) “For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes; therefore also through Him is our Amen...

Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession… (Hebrews 3:1) Formally we think of apostles as the original twelve disciples identified in the gospel accounts (Matt 10:2, Mark 6:30,...

To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this…” (Revelation 3:14) Christ was not a created being, period. The Scripture is clear about that in many convincing passages....

[B]ehold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.” (Matthew 3:17) In a world of broken relationships and unrequited love, where animosity, mistrust and hatred so often reign, God is love. Before creation, after...

[B]ehold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.” (Matthew 3:17) "Beloved” by His Father, what a description of Jesus Christ! Religionists and legalists have a difficult time understanding this, for to them...

[B]ehold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.” (Matthew 3:17) The concept of Sonship has tripped up many. How could Jesus Christ be God if He is God’s Son? The mystery of the incarnation by its nature...

… according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted. (1 Timothy 1:11) How can God be blessed? Isn’t that something He does to us, the greater bestowing upon the lesser? Yet we see that: Lord Jesus Christ … is the blessed...

For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings. (Hebrews 2:10) The goal of many communicators, whether journalists, theologians...

And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. (1 Peter 5:4) The Lord is a Shepherd (1 Peter 2:25), my Shepherd (Ps 23:1) and the Good Shepherd (John 10:11). He is also the Chief Shepherd. No priest, pastor or elder can...

[Jesus] said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in...

And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. (Luke 2:25) Little is known about this man Simeon, but that he is mentioned is remarkable....

All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. (John 1:3) For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever....

… and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will remove ungodliness from Jacob.” (Romans 11:26) Another common description of Jesus Christ is that of “deliverer.” We should note that Stephen, one of the...

[God]... in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His...

[God]... in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His...

[God]... in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His...

[God]... in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His...

[God]... in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His...

“Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold; My chosen one in whom My soul delights. I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the nations.” (Isaiah 42:1) Chosen One, or as the NKJV renders it, Elect One—what a beautiful description of Christ in...

For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6) Four magnificent names of Christ! Musically...

For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6) Many times in the Bible we see the mightiness...

For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6) Odd as it sounds, the coming Messiah, Jesus...

For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6) At the birth of Christ the Messiah, the...

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. (Colossians 1:15) Many are the descriptions, titles and epithets of the Lord Jesus Christ. One of the most interesting is that He is the “image of the invisible God.” To Moses, God said,...

“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God …” (Revelation 3:14). Eyewitness accounts can differ, whether in the minor details of an event or in the major elements. Juries in...

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. (Colossians 1:15) God incarnate, of course, takes the most preeminent position in creation. But we must not confuse this fact with the false notion that Christ was a created being. He took...

Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. (Hebrews 6:20) In a time before modern communications technology, long before the internet, telephone or telegraph, long distance...

1 Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession … (Hebrews 3:1) Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast...

For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls. (1 Peter 2:25) We have seen in other places that the Lord is our Shepherd (Ps 23:1, 80:1), our Good Shepherd (John 10:11, 14) and our Chief...

And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church ... (Ephesians 1:22) Often Christians don’t pay attention to the significance of Christ being the head of the church—that is, He is the ultimate authority...

As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore. So Jesus said to the twelve, “You do not want to go away also, do you?” Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. “We have...

As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore. So Jesus said to the twelve, “You do not want to go away also, do you?” Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. We have...

And has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of David His servant— (Luke 1:69) To non-Jewish ears, “Horn of Salvation” is an odd description of Christ. Interestingly, this phrase was uttered by the father of John the Baptist, who had been struck...

“Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.” (Mt 1:23). Normally we don’t think of this name of Christ except around the Christmas season—probably because it has...

22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. (Romans 1:22–23) Nothing bodes worse for anyone than to...

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. (Colossians 1:15) Simply put, God is invisible; we can’t physically see Him the way we would see another person. He is beyond our five senses. Yet God at times, straining language...

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. (Colossians 1:15) So what do we do with a God we cannot see? Are we guilty of resorting to the God of the gaps as a way of explaining things that seem to have no scientific basis? We must...

“She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21) And above His head they put up the charge against Him which read, “This is Jesus the King of the Jews.” (Matthew 27:37) At His birth and at...

14… the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15… who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal...

“Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.” (Matthew 2:2). And above His head they put up the charge against Him which read, “This is Jesus the King of the Jews.” (Matthew 27:37) The book of...

The next day [John the Baptist] saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1:29) The greatest presentation the world has ever heard. Such a simple little sentence in an obscure part of the world,...

…one of the elders said to me, “Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals.” (Revelation 5:5) This title or description of our Lord sounds manly and strong. King...

“For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ Therefore what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you.” (Acts 17:23) “… for in Him we live and move and...

[If] you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation … for...

“And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me,” says the Lord Almighty. (2 Corinthians 6:18) To Christians ears, calling Jesus “Lord” does not sound strange or earthshaking. Even in our post-Christian Western society, Christian...

“The word which He sent to the sons of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all) …” (Acts 10:36) Peter had become accustomed to calling Jesus “Lord.” One of his more iconic responses to Jesus’ teaching came when Jesus intensified His...

… we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory… (1...

… we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory… (1...

“For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, ‘To an unknown god.’ Therefore what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you. “The God who made the world and all things in it,...

Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.” (Matthew 9:37–38) Salvation belongs to the Lord; winning lost sinners to Himself is His...

For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such an utterance as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory, “This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased …” (2 Peter 1:17) Hymn writer Jack Hayford captures it well: “Majesty, worship His...

He was despised and forsaken of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. (Isaiah 53:3) From majesty and glory in eternity past (John 17:5), the Son of God entered...

For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus … (1 Timothy 2:5) The Majestic, Glorious God (2 Peter 1:17) became the Man of Sorrows (Is 53:3), so that He would become the Mediator between God and man. That in brief...

And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation, being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek. Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have...

“I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.” (Revelation 22:16) In today’s vernacular, we sometimes refer to an exceptionally gifted youth as a “rising...

“He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David… (Luke 1:32) Luke, the third Gospel chronicler and author also of the book of Acts, stands alone in his reference to God with the...

[Joseph, Mary and Jesus] came and lived in a city called Nazareth. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets: “He shall be called a Nazarene.” (Matthew 2:23) In studying God through His names and epithets, when looked at closely we discover...

No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him. (John 1:18) We include “Son” in this epithet because of the NKJV translation (and the KJV before it), although the inclusion of the word is...

No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him. (John 1:18) While the inclusion of “Son” in John 1:18 (“only begotten Son of God” NKJV) is questionable in the ancient manuscripts, the phrase...

Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed. (1 Corinthians 5:7) What a beautiful word picture of Christ this places before us! He is “our Passover.” What unique...

… Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth… (Revelation 1:5) Authority comes intrinsic to life—we all have those to whom we answer. Of course our ultimate authority or ruler is the Creator God,...

“But you disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, but put to death the Prince of life, the one whom God raised from the dead, a fact to which we are witnesses." (Acts 3:14–15). Second sermons often build on the first...

“Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brethren; to Him you shall give heed to everything He says to you. (Acts 3:22). Peter’s sermon shortly after Pentecost identifies Jesus as a prophet just like Moses, a statement...

For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers … all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ. (1 Corinthians 10:1–4) We often proclaim, “Jesus is our Rock,”...

“I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.” (Revelation 22:16) Understanding the connection between Jesus and the beloved David is crucial to fully...

“And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the leaders of Judah; for out of you shall come forth a Ruler who will shepherd My people Israel.” (Matthew 2:6) From earliest times, God’s image bearers have desired to follow a leader. We were...

“And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the leaders of Judah; for out of you shall come forth a Ruler who will shepherd My people Israel.” (Matthew 2:6) The idea of Jesus being a ruler of His people is multi-faceted. In context,...

… for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:11) The descriptor “Savior” is actually used in the gospel accounts only three times: once by Mary the mother of the earthly Jesus, once in the angelic...

The record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham … (Matthew 1:1) “What do you think about the Christ, whose son is He?” [The Pharisees] said to Him, “The son of David.” He said to them, “Then how does David in the Spirit...

“For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost. (Matthew 18:11). A favorite way Jesus referred to Himself was as “Son of Man” in contrast to “Son of David,” which He was reticent to use. Used primarily in the gospel accounts in the NT, it finds...

“For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost. (Matthew 18:11). As Son of Man, Jesus showed not only His humanness, but also what true humanity looks like. We humans were created in God’s image, have fallen, but are now restored through the...

Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.” He said...

The high priest stood up and came forward and questioned Jesus, saying, “Do You not answer? What is it that these men are testifying against You?” But He kept silent and did not answer. Again the high priest was questioning Him, and saying to Him, “Are You...

“He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David …”  (Luke 1:32) Superlatives convey absolutes, beyond which nothing else compares. Jesus Christ, as told by the tongue of an angel,...

Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation … (Hebrews 5:8–9) Eternal security is a wonderful doctrine! Although the precise...

… they cried out with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” (Revelation 6:10) The cry of the heart reverberates through the heavens to the Sovereign...

Because of the tender mercy of our God, with which the Sunrise from on high will visit us … (Luke 1:78) This final epithet of God we are considering reflects on the newness, the freshness of God’s coming into the world in the fullness of re-creation. The...