Problem: The subtitle to Psalm 30 is “A Song at the dedication of the house of David.” However, the psalm itself makes no reference to the house of David, and the content is concerned with a personal experience of God’s grace in time of trouble. Is this subtitle an error?
Problem: The psalmist declares that the earth was “founded upon the seas.” But Job said, “He hangs the earth on nothing” (Job 26:7).
This is part 8 of a study of 1 Corinthians 12-14. The last time we finished with 1 Corinthians 12; lets look again at 1 Cor 12:31
31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.
He said we can the gifts, but He (Paul) will show us a better way. For that we have to go into Chapter 13, so let us look at the 1st verse Continue reading →
Problem: Throughout the Bible God is depicted as eminently approachable, for “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Ps. 46:1; cf. 73:28; James 4:8). On the other hand, in this psalm God is portrayed as inaccessible. For example, “Why do You stand afar off, O Lord? Why do You hide Yourself in times of trouble?” (Psa. 10:1; cf. Isa. 14:15; Ezek. 20:3).
Problem: The inscription on this psalm, as on many others, says, “A Psalm of David.” However, biblical critics argue that the form and style of the psalm reflects a much later period than David’s time.
Problem: David declared here that the righteous person “meditates day and night.” However, meditation is associated with Eastern religions, such as Buddhism and Hinduism, which are contrary to Christianity. Should Christians engage in meditation?
Problem: The Chronicler declares that Nebuchadnezzar “came up against him [Jehoiakim], and bound him in bronze fetters to carry him off to Babylon.” But elsewhere “Jehoiakim rested with his fathers” (2 Kings 24:6) and was “buried with the burial of a donkey, dragged and cast out beyond the gates of Jerusalem” (Jer. 22:19; cf. 36:30).
Problem: Here we are informed that Josiah destroyed the altars and idols, but earlier (in 2 Chron. 33:15) Manasseh had destroyed them.
Solution: No human king can root out the depraved human desire for idolatry. Therefore, Josiah had to redo the same work that his predecessor had done. A good human king can destroy idols, but not the love of idols. And, as long as this love exists, idolatry will live to rear its ugly head again and again.
Problem: According to this text, upon his return, Manasseh repented of his earlier sin and reinstituted the worship of the Lord in Judah. However, the record of the career of Manasseh as found in 2 Kings 21 does not mention this glorious repentance. Why?
Problem: In 2 Kings 16:15, Ahaz encouraged the worship of the Lord in the temple. But, in 2 Chronicles 28 he is said to have “shut up the doors of the house of the Lord, and made for himself altars in every corner of Jerusalem” (v. 24). Continue reading →
“Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify Thy name? for thou only art holy” (Rev. 15:4). He only is independently, infinitely, immutably holy. In Scripture, He is frequently styled “The Holy One.” He is so because the sum of all moral excellency is found in Him. He is absolute purity, unsullied even by the shadow of sin. “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). Holiness is the very excellency of the divine nature; the great God is “glorious in holiness” (Ex. 15:11). Therefore we read, “Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity” (Hab. 1:13).
The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than success, than what other people think or say or do.
Problem: Here we are told that it was king Ahaziah’s brother’s “sons” who were killed. But 2 Kings 10:13–14 says it was Ahaziah’s “brothers” that were slain.
Problem: According to 2 Chronicles 21:16–17, Jehoram’s sons were only taken captive by the Philistines and the Arabians. By contrast, this passage says they “killed all the older sons.”